International cooperation having begun since 14 years ago has led to a delightful result for UMY. The internationalization is an ongoing process to achieve the goal. The effect of the achievement is that Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) has achieved A since 2013 for the accreditation of higher education institution (AIPT) by National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN-PT). Furthermore, UMY would register for International Accreditation by Quacquarelli Symonds Stars (QS Stars) or well known for International Accreditation Body. To gain the aim, UMY would foster more the cooperation with Top 500 Universities based on QS Stars.
It was listed on Term of Reference (ToR) of Workshop of Cooperation and Internationalization of UMY. It was conducted by UMY through Cooperation Office (BKS) and International Relations Office (IRO) for 2 days (29-30/01) in Kalyana Resort Jalan Kaliurang Km 22.38 Dusun Banteng Hargobinagun, Sleman, Yogyakarta.
According to Vice Chancellor III UMY, Sri Atmaja P. Rosyidi S.T., M.Sc.Eng., Ph.D., the event aimed at coining effective coordination and communication among related units at UMY, and preparing departments and faculties to organize international programs at UMY. The crux is to arrange plans which could be carried together in each related units at UMY.
“The purpose is to create effective coordination and communication among structural officials and related units. It also points out at preparing departments and faculties. Therefore, when it is provided programs, there would be positive responses and they could be socialized to lecturers and students. The crux is to arrange plans and they could be accomplished together. We use a similar ‘carriage’ and have the same goal. For unready faculties and units, we would encourage and look for the solution,” he delivered the material entitled UMY’s Preparation for Internationalization.
Moreover, Sri Atmaja explained that his party attempted to achieve international rank. His party was predicting QS Stars as an international rank institution. He argued that the challenge to include in international rank is adequate hard since QS Star would notice the number of foreign and local students, and the university publication in international level.
“The next is that we try not only to enter national ranks but also to look at QS Star. It is the rank system in international level. Whatever the rank, we would attempt to bring of improvements which it must be quite hard because it would be witnessed the number of students who we sent aboard and the number of students who are sent from overseas to here, the proportional number of foreign and local students, and the proportional publication in international level. They would truly discern an international reputable university if the university has already openly had foreign partners,” he told.
Sri Atmaja added that the workshop of Cooperation and Internationalization was with the purpose of bringing this university in international level. Thus, the workshop was to analyze strengths and weaknesses of UMY in international field and to enhance and cope with the demerits.
“We are eager to Go Global, and the tagline emerged in 2011. The vision is that UMY involves in international area, but UMY should put itself as a university in international level. In fact, it has been started since several years ago, but there is not any obvious statement yet. In 2012 we formulated a number of strategies to achieve that one of them begins this year that we enhance international competitiveness of UMY. It means that we have learnt in detail the strengths, shortages, and the future challenges. We attempt to raise and overcome the demerits through this workshop program,” he continued.
The workshop of cooperation and internationalization was attended by structural officials as Vice Dean of cooperation office of each faculty, Director of Magister Program, Director of Vocational Program, Head of Academic Office, Head of Student and Alumnus Body (LPKA), Head of Research, Development, and Community Service Body (LP3M), Head of Development and Learning Body (LPP), Director of International Programs like International Program of International Relations (IPIREL), International Program of Governmental Studies (IGOV), International Program for Islamic Economics and Finance (IPIEF), and International Program for Law and Sharia (IPOLS).
Additionally, the technique of this workshop was that participants would be divided into 3 commissions. Commission I discusses International Academic Recognition, Commission II talks about Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) dealing with internationalization, and Commission III deliberates Student Mobility as the development of research program with foreign partners, an innovative program of Tropical Course/Summer Course, Student Exchange Program, initiated program of international class, program of credit earning or credit transfer, overseas internship program or internship program in international company, and international community service.
