Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Program pertukaran mahasiswa merdeka (pmm) merupakan bagian dari kebijakan merdeka belajar kampus merdeka (mbkm) yang bertujuan memberikan pengalaman belajar lintas kampus dan budaya bagi mahasiswa di seluruh indonesia, namun dalam pelaksanaannya masih terdapat mahasiswa yang kurang memahami motivasi mengikuti program ini serta menghadapi berbagai kendala sejak proses pendaftaran hingga pelaksanaan. penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui motivasi mahasiswa dalam mengikuti pmm dan mengidentifikasi kendala yang mereka hadapi. penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan jenis penelitian deskriptif. penelitian dilakukan di fakultas keguruan dan ilmu pendidikan universitas syiah kuala pada februari hingga april 2025. subjek penelitian adalah enam mahasiswa fkip peserta pmm angkatan iii dan iv, sedangkan objek penelitian adalah motivasi dan kendala mahasiswa. instrumen penelitian menggunakan pedoman wawancara semi-terstruktur. teknik pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui studi pustaka dan wawancara mendalam. teknik analisis data menggunakan model interaktif miles dan huberman yang meliputi reduksi data, penyajian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan. hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa motivasi mahasiswa terbagi menjadi dua kategori, yaitu motivasi intrinsik (keinginan belajar budaya baru, meningkatkan kemandirian, keluar dari rutinitas akademik, dan memperluas wawasan) serta motivasi ekstrinsik (dukungan orang tua, dosen, promosi media sosial, insentif biaya hidup, dan sertifikat akademik). kendala yang dihadapi mahasiswa meliputi hambatan administratif, keterbatasan informasi, kesiapan akademik, kendala biaya, serta kesulitan adaptasi sosial dan budaya. secara keseluruhan, motivasi intrinsik dan ekstrinsik menjadi faktor pendorong utama mahasiswa mengikuti pmm, sementara kendala administratif, finansial, dan sosial-budaya menjadi tantangan agar pelaksanaan program lebih optimal. kata kunci: motivasi, program pmm, kendala, mbkm

The Merdeka Student Exchange Program (Program Pertukaran Mahasiswa Merdeka/PMM) is part of the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) policy, which aims to provide cross-campus and cross-cultural learning experiences for students across Indonesia. However, in its implementation, some students still lack a clear understanding of their motivation for participating in the program and face various challenges from the registration process to the implementation stage. This study aims to examine students’ motivation in participating in PMM and to identify the challenges they encounter. This research employed a qualitative approach with a descriptive research design. The study was conducted at the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Syiah Kuala, from February to April 2025. The research subjects consisted of six FKIP students who participated in PMM cohorts III and IV, while the research objects were students’ motivation and challenges in participating in PMM. The research instrument was a semi-structured interview guideline. Data were collected through library research and in-depth interviews. Data analysis employed the interactive model proposed by Miles and Huberman, which includes data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that students’ motivation is divided into two categories: intrinsic motivation (the desire to learn new cultures, increase independence, break away from routine academic activities, and broaden perspectives) and extrinsic motivation (support from parents and lecturers, social media promotion, living cost allowances, and academic certificates). The challenges faced by students include administrative barriers, limited information, academic readiness, financial constraints, and difficulties in social and cultural adaptation. Overall, intrinsic and extrinsic motivations are the main driving factors for students’ participation in PMM, while administrative, financial, and socio-cultural challenges remain issues that need to be addressed to optimize program implementation. Keywords: Motivation, PMM Program, FKIP Students, Challenges, MBKM