BANDUNG, August 13, 2026 — Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) held an academic cooperation meeting and working visit with Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad) at the Executive Lounge of Building 2, Unpad’s Dipatiukur Campus. The meeting focused on mapping potential areas of collaboration, gaining insights into international ranking strategies, managing research grants, and strengthening strategies for publishing in highly reputable academic journals.
The UMS delegation comprised senior representatives from the Directorate of Reputation, Partnerships, and International Affairs (DRKUI) and the Directorate of Research, Community Engagement, Publications, and Intellectual Property Centers (DRPPS). From Unpad, the meeting was welcomed by representatives of the University Strategic Development and Reputation Unit (SPSRU) and the Directorate of Research, Downstreaming, and Community Engagement (DRHPM).
Director of DRKUI UMS, Nurgiyatna, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., said the visit represented a concrete step by UMS to learn from the best practices implemented by Unpad, particularly in enhancing global rankings, research performance, publications, and the strengthening of Intellectual Property (IP) Centers.
“Through this sharing session, we hope UMS can gain valuable insights from Unpad to accelerate its international reputation and strengthen the governance of research and publications with broader impact,” Nurgiyatna said in opening the discussion.
Head of SPSRU Unpad, Yudi Ahmad Faisal, S.E., CIFP., Ph.D., presented Unpad’s strategies for achieving Key Performance Indicators (IKU) and strengthening its global reputation. Unpad has established a dedicated unit focusing on international rankings, tiered performance evaluation through cascading, and more efficient risk management.
From the perspective of research governance, Head of the Research Development Center at DRHPM Unpad, Diky Ramdani, S.Pt., M.Anim.St., Ph.D., explained that Unpad’s grant policies and research ecosystem have been specifically designed in accordance with the parameters of global university rankings and the World Class University framework.
Several key practices shared by Unpad included:
- Alignment of Performance Indicators through Cascading: University-level targets, including Academic Reputation and Employer Reputation, are explicitly cascaded down to the faculty, study program, and individual lecturer levels.
- Data Integrity and Research Branding: A strong commitment to data-driven management, supported by a dedicated team responsible for increasing the global visibility and branding of lecturers’ research outputs, including through initiatives such as Unpad’s Lecturer Expertise Website.
- Diversification of Funding Sources: The development of sustainable funding sources, including an Endowment Fund and a transparent digital waqf management platform, to strengthen the institution’s financial independence.
An interactive discussion session, moderated by Head of the Research and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Center Subdivision at UMS, Prof. Dr. Ambarwati, M.Si., and Head of the Publication Development Subdivision at DRPPS, Naufal Ishartono, Ph.D., resulted in several concrete proposals for collaboration between the two institutions.
The proposed initiatives include the National Collaborative Research Program, Indonesia Collaborative Research Scheme B, and International Collaborative Research, as well as a Joint Conference targeting outputs indexed in Scopus at a minimum of Q3.
The outcomes of the discussion will subsequently serve as a basis for UMS in formulating follow-up measures, including strengthening its cascading strategy for performance indicators, developing research collaborations, and exploring joint activities between UMS and Unpad.
The meeting is expected to mark the beginning of a stronger institutional relationship between the two universities while fostering collaborations that contribute to the advancement of higher education, research, and community engagement.
