A journal of International Relations of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) is accredited ‘B’ by Directorate General of Research Empowerment and Development, Ministry of Research and Technology (Kemenristek DIKTI). The accreditation has been valid since 1 December 2015.

Chief of International Relations Lab, Ade Marup Wirasenjaya, S.IP., M.A. stated, “One of the requirements of achieving the accreditation was that there were six journal editions whose contents, formats and management should be reviewed.”

Ade told that the contents had to be edited by a number of parties. Besides, the journal editor team was International Relations lecturers of UMY reviewers of other universities in Indonesia and abroad. “The foreign reviewers are Linda Quayle, Prof. Bilver Sigh from Singapore, and Mohd Azizudin Mohd Sani from Malaysia,” he mentioned. While, the Indonesia reviewers are University of Parahyangan, UGM, and UNPAD.

To obtain the accreditation, the journal authors must be from several parties of different expertise or so-called ‘Mitra Bestari’. The authors were from lecturers, researchers, experts working at Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), and others. 70% of the authors are from outsiders of International Relations of UMY, and the others are from International Relations of UMY.

“The reviewers suggested that the accreditation should be maintained in the contents, the journal team, and the journal editor,” Ade said. He also expected that the journal team can always go hand in hand and can work harder so that the ‘B’ accreditation can turn into ‘A’ accreditation.

Additionally, the journal is published twice a year, on Aprils and on Octobers. The journal is published in printed copy and online on journal.umy.ac.id. “In 2016, the journal will be shifted into e-journal so that International Relations of UMY can publish many more online journals,” he wished. The shift may challenge the team to be capable of Information Technology in order that the e-journal can be uploaded well.

The editor team also enhances the performance so that the journal quality can be better. He argued that the good journal quality impacts on the institution. “The accreditation is expected to foster International Relations and UMY,” he hoped.