Berita

Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) in keeping up with its effort to improve its internationalization program held ‘UMY & Ambassadors Gathering’ on June 16th at PP Muhammadiyah, Menteng, Jakarta. It is UMY’s latest endeavor to further its internationalization effort and in response of the new positive increase in foreign students applicants, this fact is also stated in the event, attended by ambassadors and representatives located in Jakarta.

This event, a first and innovative move by UMY, invited Ambassadors and representatives from Bangladesh, Ecuador, France, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq, Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey, Palestine, South Africa, Singapore, Nigeria.

Prof. Syafiq A. Mughni, MA., Ph.D, (Position Unclear) of Muhammadiyah Central Committee stated that this agenda is a very important agenda for Muhammadiyah universities. Prof. Syafiq continued, (this event) is an important agenda as this event facilitates part of Muhammadiyah’s Internationalization, Muhammadiyah’s future strategic goals.

“So that in the future, of course, the capacity of educational institutions that handle this internationalization program must continue to increase and be more expansive in undergoing cooperation not only in recruiting foreign students to study at UMY but also in sending UMY students to study abroad and in combination with staff exchanges, this is an activity that greatly strengthens academic prowess” Prof. Syafiq explained.

Prof. Syafiq also added that UMY can be an example for other Muhammadiyah higher education establishments in building international cooperation. “I believe that UMY has the potential to support the effort of internationalization collaboration, efforts of inbound of foreign student to UMY in addition to increasing the number of lecturers with foreign higher education degree. Inputs and suggestion can also be obtained from inbound students from abroad. These efforts should be beneficial for all parties, and enrich academically and culturally”, he added.

Similar rhetoric was conveyed by Prof. Dr. Ir. Gunawan Budiyanto., MP., IPM., Rector of UMY. He explained that the purpose of holding this gathering with ambassadors and representatives was to be continue to cooperate further in the field of education. “For the first time, UMY held a UMY and Ambassador Gathering to provide information to ambassadors and representatives of various countries that there is an increasing amount of attention from foreign students to study at UMY. In addition, the purpose of this activity is for UMY to further develop its international collaboration,” Prof. Budiyanto continued.

Prof. Gunawan continued his remarks by explaining the forms of collaborations that can be conducted with embassies and their respective countries, the cooperation can be in the form of financing of living cost of inbound students who are currently studying in UMY, also can be cooperated with is the monitoring the development of said students. “The form of cooperation that can be conducted includes foreign scholarships for students’ study and daily expenses in Yogyakarta, we hope that this awards and grants can be contributed by the government of respective students’ countries. As such, this connection should increase and help students from many countries, when a mutually beneficial cooperation are established” he explained.

Furthermore, Prof. Gunawan also remarked that there are 1411 foreign students enrolled at UMY in 2022. UMY hopes that the governments of students’ respective country are able to monitor and participate in the progress of students’ time in Jogja. “We are optimistic that the response from the embassies in Jakarta will lead to positive cooperation. So that in the years to come, UMY can expand the organization of international students, which has recently increased drastically,” He concluded.