UMRI and UMAM Establish Strategic Partnership, Unlocking Golden Opportunities for Students and Faculty

UMRI and UMAM Establish Strategic Partnership, Unlocking Golden Opportunities for Students and Faculty

Padang Besar, Perlis – Universitas Muhammadiyah Riau (UMRI) has officially formed a strategic partnership with Universiti Muhammadiyah Malaysia (UMAM). The collaboration was sealed through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at UMAM's campus in Padang Besar, Perlis, on December 2, 2024.

This partnership aims to provide golden opportunities for students and faculty members to enhance the quality of education and research. The academic collaboration spans various initiatives, including student exchanges, joint research, curriculum development, and professional development programs.

Support for Students and Faculty Development

In his remarks, UMAM Rector Prof. Dr. Ir. Waluyo Adi Siswanto emphasized the university's commitment to facilitating opportunities for UMRI faculty members to further their studies in Malaysia. "UMAM has prepared special packages to make it easier for UMRI faculty members to pursue their studies here," said Prof. Waluyo.

In addition, master's students from UMRI are also encouraged to pursue higher studies at UMAM. "We warmly welcome UMRI students to continue their PhD programs at UMAM," Prof. Waluyo added.

Expanding International Academic Networks

The partnership between UMRI and UMAM represents a strategic step toward expanding international academic networks. Both institutions aim to learn from each other and improve the quality of education to meet international standards.

"This collaboration will bring significant benefits to both parties. We hope this partnership will continue to grow stronger in the future," stated Dr. Alum Kusumah, S.Sos, MM, Ph.D., CFRM, Quality Assurance Coordinator for Postgraduate Programs at UMRI, who represented UMRI at the MoU signing ceremony.

Details of the Collaboration

The MoU was signed by Dr. Alum Kusumah, accompanied by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sulistyandari, SE, ME, Head of the Master of Management and Entrepreneurship Program at UMRI, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ika Safitri Windiarti, Dean of Business, Management, and IT at UMAM.

The agreement outlines several key areas of collaboration, including:

• Student and faculty exchanges
• Joint research projects
• Curriculum development
• Capacity-building programs

Looking Ahead

The signing ceremony concluded with a luncheon and networking session. The partnership between UMRI and UMAM is expected to make a positive contribution to the advancement of higher education in both Indonesia and Malaysia, fostering growth and innovation in the academic sector.