UMAM and UMC Launch Pre-PhD Coaching Program, Collaborate to Prepare 5,000 Doctors
Universiti Muhammadiyah Malaysia (UMAM) together with Universitas Muhammadiyah Cirebon (UMC) held a Pre-PhD Coaching program and a public lecture at the UMC Convention Hall from Monday to Wednesday (17-19 February 2025).
This event was organized to prepare academics for their journey toward doctoral studies. The three-day program aimed to enhance research capacity and introduce the latest research methodologies to participants.
The Rector of UMC, Arif Nurudin, M.T., emphasized the university's commitment to improving academic quality. This program is one of UMC's efforts to support academics who wish to pursue doctoral studies.
"UMC will continue to strive to enhance academic quality through various flagship programs. This Pre-PhD Coaching is one such example," said Arif.
The collaboration with UMAM marks a significant moment in this program. He appreciated the efforts of UMAM's Rector, Dr. Saidul Amin, M.A., who has positioned UMAM as a primary destination for Muhammadiyah academics aspiring to pursue doctoral studies.
Collaboration between universities, particularly Muhammadiyah Aisyiyah Higher Education Institutions (PTMA) and other private universities, is expected to accelerate the improvement of research quality and academic development in Indonesia.
The three-day program featured various in-depth and beneficial activities for participants. The first day began with guidance on strategies for selecting research topics relevant to the latest developments in the academic world. Additionally, participants were guided to identify research gaps that could form a strong foundation for their studies, thereby contributing to the advancement of knowledge.
On the second day, the focus shifted to deepening appropriate and thorough research methodologies. Participants were encouraged to understand how to apply methodologies relevant to their respective fields of study. They were also prepared to write high-quality PhD proposals. This session provided an opportunity for participants to interact directly with expert speakers and share experiences and insights.
Two distinguished academics from UMAM, Assoc. Prof. Dwi Santoso, Ph.D., and Assoc. Prof. Sohirin, Ph.D., provided practical guidance to participants to develop their research and academic writing skills. The materials covered various important aspects of research and dissertation preparation in line with international academic standards.
The discussions were highly relevant in preparing participants to face the challenges of doctoral studies.
One of the major goals of this program is to support the efforts of the Muhammadiyah Central Executive's DiktiLitbang Council, which is currently running a program to produce 5,000 doctors.
This initiative aims to produce more doctors from Muhammadiyah academics, who are expected to strengthen Indonesia's research capacity and build a solid academic network at the global level.
Overall, the Pre-PhD Coaching program and public lecture organized by UMC and UMAM mark a hopeful starting point for the advancement of Indonesia's academic world.
Through strong synergy between the two universities and the support of the Muhammadiyah Central Executive's DiktiLitbang Council, it is hoped that this program will produce more qualified academics.
Participating academics are expected to be ready to make significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge, not only at the national level but also internationally.