The visit of Rector Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) Prof., Dr., Sofyan Anief with Vice Rector V, Prof Supriyono, Ph.D. and the BKUI Team, to partner universities in South Korea yielded good results. Not only succeed in extending the collaboration contract with two universities, Youngsan University and Tongmyong University, also offered land to build a Muhammadiyah campus in Busan, South Korea.
“Alhamdulillah, our collaboration is more widespread, not only the extension of the collaboration contract between universities. In fact, by the President of Tongmyong University, we were specifically offered to open a university in Busan,” said Prof Sofyan Anif, Wednesday (31/8/2022).
After meeting with UMS Double Degree Program students who were studying in Korea, Monday (29/8) at night, UMS Rector Prof. Sofyan Anif and Vice Rector (WR) V, Prof., Supriyono., Ph.D., along with three Head of BKUI, Wijianto. M.Eng.Sc., (Head of International Class Development); Denny Vitasari, Ph.D., (Head of Academic Collaboration); and Fajar Suryawan, Ph.D., (Head of Data Management and Ranking), Tuesday (30/8) visited Youngsan University and Tongmyong University.
In Seoul, Prof. Sofyan Anif signed an extension of the MoU with the President of Youngsan University Korea, Mr. Guwuck Bu, Ph.D. about the Double Degree program and credit transfer between UMS and Youngsan. “The renewal of the MoU with Youngsan has a tag line, Wise’u that means Wise University and you are Wise,” said WR V, Prof Supriyono.
Supriyono explained that collaboration would expand to staff exchange and joint research to improve the academic reputation of the two universities, UMS and Youngsan. “Hopefully this collaboration will run smoothly,” said Supriyono.
Credit Transfer
Youngsan University is locating at 288 Juanm-ro, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. Tuesday afternoon Prof. Anif and his team continued their mission to Tongmyong University, the location at 428 Sinseon-ro, Nam-gu, Busan, South Korea, to sign the MoA collaboration document. The UMS delegation was received by the President of Tongmyong University, Jeung Hong Sub. As for the script, the MoA regulates student exchange collaboration through double degree and credit transfer programs in online learning and how to establish closeness between lecturers of each study program.
Jeung Hong Sub discuss with Sofyan Anif continued at the dinner table. Sofyan told the host that Muhammadiyah had gone global with the existence of the Special Branch of Muhammadiyah (PCIM) in Seoul. Even soon, the Executive Branch of the Special Branch of Muhammadiyah (PRIM) in Busan. “There are more than 160 PTM/A throughout Indonesia there is also UMAM in Malaysia,” said Sofyan Anif to President Tongmyong.
Hearing this explanation, the President of Tongmyong Jeung Hong Sub was excited and even then he offered a building with classes, along with facilities and land if Muhammadiyah wanted to establish a university in Busan, Korea. “He is very serious about this, and is willing to come to Indonesia if there is a positive response,” said Sofyan Anif.
As a form of seriousness, Sofyan Anif invited the President of Tongmyong University to come to Indonesia, during the peak celebration of the 64th Anniversary of UMS, on October 24, 2022. “We also asked the President of Tongmyong to give his scientific oration in front of the UMS academic community,” he added.
