UMY and UMS Collaborate to Promote Scholarships and Strengthen Ties in Cambodia
The Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) delegation, consisting of Dr. Maria Ulfa, MMR., Ph.D, Diah Setyawati Dewanti, S.E., M.Sc., Ph.D., and Ryan Arif Hidayat S.IP., successfully conducted a series of promotional visits in Cambodia from March 12-14, 2025. The trip, aimed at promoting UMY scholarships and building international collaborations, was supported by the Asian Foundation for Education and Development in Cambodia.
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The journey began on March 11, when the UMY team arrived at Phnom Penh International Airport, where they were warmly welcomed by representatives from the Asian Foundation. The following day, the team visited several high schools in Cambodia, starting with Kuwait Center in Kampot, a school under the Asian Foundation’s supervision. The event, attended by 16 senior high school students, provided an opportunity for the UMY team to showcase their scholarship programs, which include tuition fee waivers, monthly stipends, dormitory and accommodation subsidies, health insurance, and Indonesian language courses (BIPA). The school also offered an office tour, which highlighted its similarities with Muhammadiyah’s values and mission in social, health, and educational sectors.
Subsequent visits took place at Ma’had Imam Syafie and Attamayus High School, where the UMY team engaged with a total of 169 students. At these institutions, the enthusiasm was palpable, with many students expressing keen interest in UMY’s scholarship offerings. One of the highlights was witnessing how many students at Attamayus were proficient in English, despite initial shyness during the Q&A session.
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On March 13, the team continued its journey to Phnom Penh, visiting Al-Ihsan Association for Islamic Education & Development and Norol Iman High School. At Al-Ihsan, students were divided into male and female groups due to the school’s gender-segregated system. Approximately 98 students participated in the UMY presentation, with many expressing a desire to pursue further studies in Indonesia, particularly in programs related to Islamic studies and Arabic language. Meanwhile, at Norol Iman High School, 43 female students attended, showing great interest in the scholarship opportunities offered by UMY.
The third day of the promotional tour saw the UMY delegation split into two teams again. Team A traveled to INTAC (Institute of Integrated Tahfiz Cambodia) in Tbong Khmum, while Team B visited Maahad Haji Fickry High School in Kampong Chhnang. Both schools demonstrated a high level of enthusiasm, with over 180 students in total engaging with the UMY team. The discussions underscored the significant potential for academic collaboration and student mobility between Cambodia and Indonesia.
In addition to the school visits, on March 14, the UMY delegation had a courtesy call with the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh. Ambassador Dr. Santo Darmosumarto and First Secretary Ibu Linda Widiyanti expressed their support for UMY’s mission in promoting higher education opportunities in Cambodia. The embassy also highlighted the upcoming Mini Education Fair, where UMY is invited to participate, further strengthening ties between the two countries.