Surakarta, 9 April 2026 — The Directorate of Reputation, Partnership, and International Affairs (DRKUI) of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) organized a welcoming and orientation session for international students of the 2026 academic year at the UMS Postgraduate Seminar Room. The event was attended by 19 newly arrived international students along with representatives from the respective study programs where they will pursue their studies.
The Rector of UMS, Harun Joko Prayitno, warmly welcomed the students as they began their academic journey in Indonesia. He expressed his hope that they would adapt well and enjoy their learning experience at UMS.
“Welcome to UMS. I hope you will become adaptive, transformative individuals and feel comfortable during your time here,” he stated.
He added that UMS is well known for its excellent services and friendly environment, which helps international students adjust smoothly to their new surroundings.
Meanwhile, the Director of DRKUI, Nurgiyatna, also extended a warm welcome and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to providing the best services for international students. He noted that each student will be supported by a buddy or mentor throughout their study period at UMS.
In his report, Nurgiyatna highlighted the significant increase in interest in the International Priority Scholarship (IPS) program. For the 2026/2027 academic year, UMS received 7,245 applications from 101 countries, with the majority coming from the African continent, totaling 3,831 applicants.
The steady increase in the number of admitted international students each year reflects UMS’s strong commitment to becoming a globally recognized university. In 2024, UMS admitted 22 international students, followed by 23 students in 2025, and a significant rise to 39 students in 2026, who are now enrolled across 18 study programs.
“You are the selected few from thousands of applicants. Make the most of this opportunity and give your best, as you have competed in a highly competitive selection process,” he emphasized.
One of the IPS awardees, Aya Abusidu, shared her reasons for choosing UMS to pursue her master’s degree in English Language Education. She first learned about UMS through a relative who had previously studied in Indonesia.
“UMS offers scholarships, so I decided to apply, and I feel grateful to have been accepted here,” she said.
Aya also noted that UMS is widely recognized among Palestinian students, which further strengthened her decision to study at the university.
After spending one week at the UMS student dormitory (Pesma), Aya expressed her comfort with the campus environment and the friendliness of the local community.
“I feel safe and comfortable here. I am really looking forward to studying at UMS and gaining many new experiences,” she added.
Through this welcoming program, UMS once again reaffirmed its commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and globally engaging academic environment for students from around the world.
