Surakarta, July 1, 2025 — Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) welcomed a delegation from the Asian Foundation for Education and Development (AFED) in Cambodia for a strategic partnership meeting and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony, held on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at the BPH Meeting Room, 6th Floor, Siti Walidah Main Building, UMS. The event marked a new chapter in advancing education, student exchange, and community development efforts across Southeast Asia.
The discussion opened with remarks from Mr. Andy Bawono, Director of the Office of Collaboration and International Affairs, highlighting the importance of sustaining long-term collaboration between UMS, AFED, and the broader Muhammadiyah movement. “We are committed to fostering continued cooperation that supports Muhammadiyah’s mission in education and empowerment across the region,” he said.
Prof. Dr. Harun Joko Prayitno, Rector of UMS, emphasized the need to actualize this partnership through tangible initiatives in both development and education. “We are currently piloting an inbound mobility scheme where one foreign student is placed in each study program. We also see a great opportunity to collaborate with AFED in joint research,” he noted.
Dr. Raus Mansasry (Zahri Yahya), President of AFED, explained the foundation’s vision since its establishment in 2014. AFED targets collaborations with institutions in at least ten Asian countries, focusing on education, empowerment of orphans, zakat programs, interfaith community development, and support for underprivileged families through schooling and welfare programs.
From the UMS side, Dr. Denny Vitasari, head of Academic Collaboration, shared that 13 Cambodian students have already registered for scholarship opportunities at UMS and still under review. “We aslo offer 40 scholarship slots through partnerships with institutions across the world. These include partial scholarships with a six-month language preparation program.” she explained.
Prof. Supriyono, Vice Rector for Cooperation and Internationalization, reiterated that scholarship opportunities at UMS, IPS Program, remain open, including government-funded programs such as KNB and TIAS. “There are still 20 IPS scholarship quotas available, and UMS is prepared to allocate five full scholarships for Cambodian students. These can be spread across different departments. We are also exploring community empowerment funding through LPMMP and student internships,” he added.
To overcome language barriers, he proposed the establishment of Indonesian Corners across Asia. “This can serve as a cultural and linguistic bridge for Indonesian and local students alike,” he said.
Mr. Wijianto highlighted the TIAS scholarship scheme, identifying Cambodia as a priority country, with registration and verification handled via the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) and online applications.
Various collaboration models were discussed during the event, including hosting arrangements where accommodation and meals are provided by AFED, while UMS covers transport and departure logistics. The is a possibility to conduct a 1-month community service program (KKN) focused on cultural immersion and language learning, long-standing community service programs, such as the Shobron student mission, where Indonesian students have taught Bahasa Indonesia and Tahfidz in Cambodia since 2017. This program requires a one-year service commitment, with logistics provided by UMS and living costs covered by the host institution.
Prof. Dr. Sarjito elaborated on the design of the 3–6 month community service programs. “These initiatives are structured around actual community needs, which are then broken down into targeted activities across five disciplines: religious studies, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, and civil engineering,” he stated. He also suggested prior coordination with Cambodian partners to align the number and expertise of personnel deployed.
Additionally, Mr. El Yasak, Relation Department of Asian Foundation for ASEAN Country, expressed support for facilitating KKN in Cambodia. “We can assist in transporting and placing students in schools. We also welcome proposals such as waste management and turning waste into economically valuable products,” he shared.
With the MoU now formally signed, UMS and AFED are prepared to move forward with program implementation, bringing academic and humanitarian efforts together in the spirit of mutual growth.
