Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta Partners with Kayong Utara to Strengthen Regional Healthcare Workforce
Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) has furthered its commitment to fostering national potential by addressing regional disparities in healthcare. In a strategic collaboration with Universitas Aisyiyah Yogyakarta (UNISA) and the Kayong Utara Regency Government in West Kalimantan, UMY will provide scholarships to local students to help build the region’s healthcare workforce.
The formal agreement was sealed with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on January 24th at the UMY Integrated Campus, in a ceremony attended by key officials from both institutions.
Prof. Dr. Achmad Nurmandi, M.Sc., Rector of UMY, explained that this initiative is part of UMY’s broader commitment to the three pillars of higher education—education, research, and community service. He emphasized the university’s unwavering dedication to offering quality education that transcends geographic boundaries, impacting not just Indonesia but the global community.
“This partnership embodies the tri dharma of higher education, designed to serve the national interest and contribute to the development of human resources across Indonesia. UMY remains committed to delivering top-tier education without regional limitations,” stated Nurmandi.
The collaboration began after Nurmandi was informed about the significant healthcare gap in Kayong Utara. Despite having a population of 127,000, the region was reported to have only two dentists, which prompted concerns over the adequacy of the local healthcare workforce.
“I saw that Kayong Utara, with a population of 127,000, had just two dentists. This shortage of healthcare professionals is alarming, and we must act swiftly to prevent foreign professionals from filling this void,” Nurmandi remarked.
Drs. Alfian Salam, Acting Regent of Kayong Utara, expressed his gratitude for the partnership, acknowledging the positive impact it would have on the local human resource development efforts.
“We are delighted and honored to sign the MoA and MoU today. We are deeply thankful for UMY’s willingness to collaborate in efforts aimed at improving human resources, especially in the health sector, in Kayong Utara,” Salam said.
Fitiri Arofiati, Ns., MAN., Ph.D., Head of the Cooperation and International Affairs Office at UMY, outlined that the focus of this initiative is specifically on advancing the healthcare workforce in Kayong Utara. The scholarships, which will be funded by the Kayong Utara Government and UMY, are designed to support the education of students in critical healthcare fields.
“The cooperation focuses on the development of human resources, particularly in healthcare. We are committed to providing scholarships for students in programs such as medicine, dentistry, nursing, and midwifery, all essential to addressing the region’s healthcare needs,” Arofiati concluded.