UMAM Holds Pre-PhD Coaching at UM Surabaya
Efforts to Enhance the Academic Quality of Prospective Doctoral Students
SURABAYA – Universiti Muhammadiyah Malaysia (UMAM) has once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting academic development within the Muhammadiyah community by organizing a Pre-PhD Coaching program. This intensive training event, focused on writing doctoral dissertation proposals, took place on 3-4 February 2025 at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya (UM Surabaya).
A total of 50 prospective doctoral students from various Muhammadiyah Higher Education Institutions (PTM) and non-PTM institutions in East Java participated in the program. The training aimed to equip these S3 candidates with a deep understanding of research methodologies and strategies for crafting high-quality proposals.
Full Support from Muhammadiyah Leadership and UMAM
The event was officially opened by the Rector of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mundakir, who emphasized the importance of academic preparation before entering doctoral studies.
“We highly appreciate UMAM’s initiative in organizing this training. This program provides significant benefits for lecturers and academics within the Muhammadiyah network and other institutions who wish to pursue S3 studies with better preparation,” said Dr. Mundakir.
Furthermore, UMAM’s Rector, Dr. Saidul Amin, expressed full support for the program. According to him, the Pre-PhD Coaching is part of the follow-up to the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership’s policy, which has provided 250 scholarships for PTM lecturers and Muhammadiyah cadres (Kadarshah) to pursue doctoral studies.
“This program is not just an academic training but also a strategic step toward producing more doctors within the Muhammadiyah community. This aligns with Muhammadiyah’s vision to strengthen intellectual and academic leadership at the global level,” said Dr. Saidul Amin.
Direct Guidance from UMAM Academics and Doctoral Students
During the training, participants received direct guidance from three renowned UMAM academics: Prof. Dr. Rushaimi, an expert in academic research and scientific publications; Prof. Dr. Mustofa Mad Deris, a specialist in research methodologies and academic development; and Assoc. Prof. Dwi Santoso, an expert in forensic linguistics and academic writing.
In addition, UMAM doctoral students accompanied participants in group discussions, offering practical insights based on their experiences in preparing proposals and publishing academic works.
Over the two-day training, participants were provided with essential materials for writing S3 proposals, including:
- Formulating Sharp and Innovative Research Problems;
- Relevant and Applicable Research Methodologies;
- Strategies for Publishing in International Journals;
- Techniques for Crafting Proposals that Appeal to Academic Committees.
According to Prof. Dr. Rushaimi, the training was designed to help prospective doctoral students better prepare for the academic challenges of doctoral studies.
“Many prospective doctoral students have excellent research ideas but struggle to articulate them in systematic and substantive proposals. Through this training, we hope they can gain more confidence in preparing competitive research proposals that are ready for academic committee review,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Mustofa Mad Deris emphasized the importance of scientific publications in a doctoral student’s academic journey.
“A doctoral student is not only required to complete a dissertation but must also be able to produce high-quality scientific publications. Therefore, this training also covers strategies for publishing in reputable international journals,” he added.
Participant Enthusiasm and Long-Term Impact
The program received positive feedback from participants. One participant, Muhammad Azwar Anas, a lecturer from a PTM in East Java, expressed that the training was highly beneficial in preparing for doctoral studies.
“I found the guidance from UMAM professors extremely helpful. They not only provided theory but also practical tips for crafting strong proposals. I am now more confident about pursuing my S3 studies at UMAM,” he said.
Additionally, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mundakir expressed hope that similar programs could be expanded to other regions.
“We hope this program can become a regular agenda extended to other areas. This way, the quality of research within Muhammadiyah and other higher education institutions can continue to improve,” he concluded.
Through this program, UMAM has further solidified its role as a globally oriented higher education institution, not only in teaching but also in academic mentoring and high-quality research development.
The Pre-PhD Coaching organized by UMAM at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya is a tangible testament to its commitment to better preparing prospective doctoral students. With the support of the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership, this program is expected to assist more lecturers and Muhammadiyah cadres in achieving quality doctoral education and contributing to the advancement of knowledge in Indonesia and the Islamic world.