Surakarta, 20 October 2025 — The Association of International Affairs Offices of Muhammadiyah and ‘Aisyiyah Higher Education Institutions (ASKUI PTMA) held its strategic meeting titled Annual Meeting ASKUI PTMA 2025 at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) on October 20–22, 2025.
The event brought together heads and staff members of International Affairs Offices (IAOs) from various Muhammadiyah and ‘Aisyiyah universities across Indonesia.
This annual forum served as a platform to share best practices, outline future directions for ASKUI, and strengthen collaboration among PTMA institutions in navigating the challenges of higher education internationalization.
Chairman of ASKUI PTMA for the 2025–2027 term, Dr. Aidil Syah Putra, M.Pd., outlined several key strategies to be implemented during his leadership. Among them are re-engaging PTMA institutions not yet registered in ASKUI’s database, continuing the Big Data development program on PTMA internationalization, and gathering member input on accreditation and global ranking initiatives.
“Internationalization plays a crucial role in accreditation and ranking processes. We aim to push PTMA institutions into the top 100 or even top 150 globally. That’s the shared strategy we’re going to strengthen together,” said Aidil on Wednesday (22/10).
Following the strategic discussion and the inauguration of the new board, participants enjoyed a team-building adventure in Kemuning, Karanganyar, which included a jeep adventure and a cultural visit to Cetho Temple. The activity was designed to foster stronger bonds and camaraderie among ASKUI members.
“The gathering on the third day was meant to bring everyone closer—those who haven’t known each other well could connect, and those who already have ties could become even stronger,” Aidil added.
He also expressed hope that ASKUI PTMA will continue to encourage more Muhammadiyah and ‘Aisyiyah universities to implement internationalization programs, ultimately increasing the number of ‘Excellent’ accredited institutions nationwide.
Meanwhile, Wijianto, S.T., M.Eng.Sc., Head of Hospitality Subdirectorate at DRKUI UMS, emphasized that ASKUI PTMA serves as a crucial platform to enhance cooperation among Muhammadiyah universities in Indonesia.
He highlighted UMS’s moral responsibility as one of Muhammadiyah’s leading universities to mentor and guide other institutions in developing international programs.
“This initiative serves as motivation for other universities to achieve the same milestones. UMS has previously mentored several PTMA institutions in attracting international students through scholarships such as KNB and TIAS,” Wijianto explained.
He added that this event is not merely a coordination forum but also a collective effort to advance Muhammadiyah’s mission in global education and intellectual da’wah.
“We hope this gathering will unite all PTMA institutions and strengthen our shared vision. UMS remains committed to setting an example in managing international students and fostering global academic engagement,” he concluded.
Through this event, ASKUI PTMA reaffirmed its commitment to building solidarity, collaboration, and a globally impactful vision of internationalization among Muhammadiyah and ‘Aisyiyah higher education institutions across Indonesia.
