Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) has successfully cooperated in educational and socio-cultural fields with several overseas universities. UMY has conducted student exchange to China and Hong Kong for 3 years, and UMY now will cooperate with a university in Guangzhou. The cooperation plan began by visit of a consultant of Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia Guangzhou Herbhayu A. Noerlambang A.S. and a lecturer of University of Jenderal Soedirman (Unsoed) Icuk Rangga Bawano S.H., S.E., M.Si., M.H., Ak., CA. “This visit aims at interweaving cooperation with UMY. I recognized UMY from my friend, and I am fortuitously in Indonesia so that it is good to visit this university as well,” stated Herbayu A. Noerlambang A.S. on Friday (16/10) at Rector room of UMY.
Bhayu conveyed that Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia Guangzhou is under the authority of Consulate General of Republic of Indonesia (KJRI Guangzhou), yet the budget is independent. “I am the consultant focusing on social and cultural issues. We have three main programs which are education and culture. We invite UMY to cooperate with universities in Guangzhou in educational field like providing scholarship, conducting student and lecturer exchange,” he stated.
He informed that in Guangzhou several facilities have been provided for supporting student exchange. “The student exchange is dealing with language since a number of universities provide Department of the Indonesian Language. In addition, we also have Southeast Asia Study Center,” he inserted.
Based on data, student exchange has been undertaken many times that there are 200 students of each period of student exchange to universities in Guangzhou. “Our duty is only linking among UMY and Universities in Guangzhou. UMY may select the universities and we well connect them to UMY. We also provide an occasion to carry out research collaboration. The procedures are not complicated as long as there is agreement from both universities, and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) can be do it later,” he elucidated,
Moreover, UMY has been cooperating with China, but UMY is willing to extend the cooperation. “The cooperation concentrates on student mobility, lecturer exchange, international conference, and research collaboration. All programs have been conducted in each university well, and the student exchange has been carried out in several countries. Nevertheless, we would like to extend the cooperation in industry field. A lot of students are eager to work voluntarily in other countries,” uttered Prof. Bambang Cipto, M.A.
He expected that the cooperation can lead to good relationship so that many Indonesian students, particularly UMY’s students are encouraged to pursue their study abroad. Besides, may the cooperation provides a lot of forums or spaces for students to learn,” he wished.
