Surakarta, February 4, 2025 – Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) warmly welcomed a delegation from Universitas Muhammadiyah Prof. DR. HAMKA (UHAMKA) for a benchmarking visit on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. The meeting took place in the Rectorate Meeting Room, 6th floor of the Siti Walidah Main Building, UMS.
The event commenced with an introduction to each institution, providing an overview of their respective missions, achievements, and strategic goals. Following the introductions, the Head of the Office of Cooperation and International Affairs (BKUI) of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Andy Dwi Bayu Bawono, S.E., M.Si., Ph.D., delivered a detailed presentation on the organizational structure of BKUI and the Office of Public Relations and Ranking (BHP) at UMS.
Akbar Nadjar Hendra, S.S., M.Pd., Head of the Cooperation and Ranking Institution at UHAMKA, highlighted the primary objective of the benchmarking visit. He emphasized UHAMKA’s aspirations to gain insights into effective strategies for achieving high rankings and internationalization, following UMS’s successful approach. Additionally, UHAMKA sought to explore further learning opportunities regarding university rankings and IT strategies.
BKUI UMS provided an in-depth explanation of its strategies and management of partnerships with both domestic and international higher education institutions. The team elaborated on how UMS actively engages in networking opportunities through participation in international conferences such as the QS Summit, APAIE, and THE, among others.
Moreover, a presentation was delivered on the development of International Classes, focusing on the management and expansion of international-class programs at UMS. The Mobility and Student Hospitality Division shared insights into the recruitment process for international students and tracking student mobility, emphasizing the importance of making mobility programs appealing to study programs and partner institutions. BKUI UMS underscored its principle of providing international exposure for students, fostering global academic experiences.
A significant highlight of the discussion was the BKUI’s Grant for Cooperation and Mobility Programs, designed to serve as a catalyst for academic departments to actively implement collaborative activities, with financial support from BKUI.
In the domain of university ranking, UMS has taken the initiative to participate in the QS Star Ranking. BHP UMS explained how the ranking process is streamlined through data integration under the “Satu Data” system. The selection of personnel involved in this process ensures high-quality work ethics and expertise, thereby supporting UMS’s ranking endeavors. BHP UMS also provided insights into the ranking submission process, offering valuable guidance to the UHAMKA delegation.
The visit concluded with an interactive discussion session, during which UHAMKA representatives actively engaged in inquiries, including how UMS manages its cooperation data in coordination with academic departments and university leadership.
The event was officially concluded with the exchange of souvenirs and commemorative plaques, symbolizing the spirit of collaboration and mutual learning between the two institutions.
