Surakarta, July 7, 2026 – Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), through its Directorate of Reputation, Partnership, and International Affairs (DRKUI), held the 2026 Monitoring and Evaluation Meeting for the Indonesian AID Scholarship (TIAS) Program in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) and the Indonesian Agency for International Development (LDKPI). The meeting aimed to evaluate the implementation of the scholarship program while strengthening the quality of academic and non-academic services provided to international scholarship recipients at UMS.
The meeting was officially opened by Prof. Supriyono, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., Vice Rector V of UMS, who reaffirmed the university’s commitment to supporting the success of TIAS awardees through high-quality education and comprehensive student support services.
“The TIAS Scholarship Program not only serves as a platform to expand international cooperation but also represents UMS’s contribution to Indonesia’s educational diplomacy. Therefore, we remain committed to providing a conducive learning environment and comprehensive support services that foster both the academic success and personal development of our awardees,” said Prof. Supriyono.
The event was attended by representatives from Kemdiktisaintek and LDKPI, including Vigo Widjanarko, Director of Finance and General Affairs of LDKPI, who highlighted the importance of strong collaboration among the government, scholarship management institutions, and host universities to ensure the effective implementation of the TIAS Scholarship Program.
The meeting continued with a presentation by Wijianto, Head of the Hospitality Subdirectorate at DRKUI UMS, who delivered a comprehensive report on the management of the 2026 TIAS Scholarship Program. His presentation covered the overall implementation of the program, the academic and non-academic achievements of the awardees, student support services, and the program evaluation.
“Through this evaluation, we identified several areas for improvement, particularly the need to strengthen the synchronization of funding policies between UMS, LDKPI, and Kemdiktisaintek from the beginning of the program, as well as to standardize reporting mechanisms to improve coordination. Overall, the TIAS Scholarship Program at UMS has been implemented successfully. The awardees have shown great enthusiasm in participating in the Indonesian Language Program (BIPA), matriculation, and orientation activities. With continued support from all stakeholders, we are optimistic that the quality of TIAS program management will continue to improve in the future,” explained Wijianto.
The monitoring and evaluation meeting also involved key supporting units responsible for the implementation of the TIAS Program, including the Institute for Course Development and Language Services (LPMB), Pesantren Mahasiswa (PESMA), and the participating study programs—Civil Engineering, Law, and Management. During the discussion session, each study program presented updates on the implementation of the matriculation program, students’ academic progress, and various mentoring initiatives provided to the awardees. LPMB also presented the implementation of the Indonesian Language Program for Foreign Speakers (BIPA), while PESMA explained its accommodation and student development services that support international students’ adaptation to campus life and Indonesian culture.
The meeting continued with a discussion session involving the monitoring teams from Kemdiktisaintek and LDKPI. On this occasion, Kemdiktisaintek expressed its appreciation for UMS’s management of the TIAS Scholarship Program, recognizing the strong collaboration among DRKUI, LPMB, PESMA, and the participating study programs in providing integrated academic and student support services. The Ministry also encouraged UMS to maintain its high standards while continuing to develop innovative initiatives that enhance the success of international scholarship recipients.
Following the discussion with the program management team, the monitoring session continued with the TIAS awardees from Fiji, Kenya, Timor-Leste, and Papua New Guinea. This session provided an opportunity for the monitoring team to gather direct feedback on the students’ experiences at UMS. Overall, the awardees expressed their appreciation for the services provided by the university, including academic support, Indonesian language instruction, dormitory facilities, and assistance throughout their adaptation process. They agreed that UMS has provided a positive and supportive learning environment during their studies in Indonesia.
Through this monitoring and evaluation meeting, UMS reaffirmed its commitment as one of the host universities for the Indonesian AID Scholarship (TIAS) Program to providing high-quality, inclusive, and internationally oriented education. The close collaboration among Kemdiktisaintek, LDKPI, DRKUI, LPMB, PESMA, and the participating study programs is expected to further strengthen the academic success, capacity development, and overall learning experience of TIAS awardees throughout their educational journey in Indonesia.
