Surakarta, June 15, 2026 – Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), through the Directorate of Reputation, Partnership, and International Affairs (DRKUI), officially established a strategic partnership with the University of Asia Pacific (UAP), Bangladesh, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) held at the Rectorate Meeting Room on Monday (June 15). The partnership marks a significant step toward expanding international academic collaboration between the two institutions.
The UAP delegation was led by Prof. Dr. Mohiuddin Ahmed Bhuiyan, Acting Vice Chancellor of UAP, accompanied by Prof. Dr. Mohammad Sharia, Dean of the School of Pharmacy, and Dr. Shihab Uddin Ahmad, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Master of Pharmacy in Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology Program.
Representing DRKUI UMS, Hepy Adityarini, S.Pd., M.A., Ph.D., Head of the Subdirectorate of Academic Partnership Development and Mobility, emphasized that the collaboration extends well beyond the signing of an agreement. Both universities are committed to developing meaningful academic initiatives that create long-term impact.
“This partnership is designed to foster various forms of academic collaboration, including joint research, joint publications, visiting lecturers, student and faculty exchanges, and potentially joint supervision for postgraduate students. We hope these initiatives will strengthen the international academic ecosystem of both institutions,” said Hepy.
One of the primary discussions during the meeting centered on strengthening collaborative research and international publications. According to Hepy, UAP has demonstrated a strong track record in publishing high-quality scientific research, particularly in internationally indexed journals.
“We see great potential for collaboration in joint publications, considering UAP’s impressive research performance. Last year alone, around 90 publications by their faculty members were successfully published in Q1 and Q2 Scopus-indexed journals. This provides an excellent opportunity for our researchers to collaborate and enhance research visibility at the international level,” she explained.
Beyond publication, both institutions also identified promising opportunities for collaborative research, particularly in the field of natural products and herbal medicine. UAP expressed strong interest in exploring Indonesia’s rich biodiversity, especially its abundant medicinal plants and herbal resources, which hold significant potential for pharmaceutical and health-related research.
“Indonesia possesses extraordinary natural resources, particularly its rich diversity of herbal plants. This is one of the areas that attracted our partners, and we see considerable potential for collaborative research that combines Indonesia’s biodiversity with UAP’s research expertise and laboratory capabilities,” Hepy added.
To support future collaboration, UAP also introduced its internationally standardized laboratory facilities, offering opportunities for joint research projects involving researchers and students from both universities. As a follow-up to the MoU, both institutions agreed to organize a series of virtual meetings involving their respective research teams to identify priority projects and develop concrete collaborative programs.
Following the signing ceremony, the UAP delegation visited the Faculty of Pharmacy at UMS to explore its academic and research facilities. During the visit, the delegates expressed their appreciation for UMS’s modern infrastructure, well-equipped laboratories, and comprehensive support system for international students through the Student Buddy Program.
The delegation also conveyed their admiration for the values of Muhammadiyah that underpin UMS’s educational philosophy. They noted that the university has successfully integrated Islamic values with academic excellence, modern facilities, and an inclusive learning environment, creating a distinctive educational experience for both domestic and international students.
The partnership between UMS and the University of Asia Pacific reflects UMS’s continued commitment to expanding global academic networks and fostering impactful international collaborations. Through joint research, scholarly publications, academic mobility, and knowledge exchange, both institutions aim to contribute to scientific advancement while addressing global challenges through innovative and collaborative solutions.
