Muhammadiyah is excellent at education field from kindergarten to higher education. Muhammadiyah is also outstanding at hospital field as the establishment of PKU Muhammadiyah in various areas. Nevertheless, Muhammadiyah needs to evolve two more fields, namely Economics as well as Sciences and Technology.

The aforementioned paragraph was uttered by Rector of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) Prof. Dr. Bambang Cipto, M.A. in an interview on Thursday (6/8). The statement was conveyed after he attended opening agenda and the 47^th Muhamadiyah Congress on 3-5 August.

The congress raised a theme “Gerakan Pencerahan Menuju Indonesia Berkemajuan” (Enlightenment Movement to Go to Developed Indonesia). Prof. Bambang informed that Muhammadiyah will organize various programs from a number of fields to the nation development.

“In the educational field, Muhammadiyah will focus on the development of all degrees, for instance the increasing of the number of students, pupils, the increasing of educational system facilities from kindergarten, elementary school, high school, and higher education, and the increasing of human resources for teachers and lecturers,” Prof. Bambang mentioned. He also stated that Muhammadiyah-affiliated institutions are also required to foster the quality and quantity of schools and higher education.

In fact, Prof. Bambang who is also the professor of International Relations (HI) of UMY continued, Muhammadiyah ought to enhance two essential fields namely Economics as well as Sciences and Technology. “For one reason, Muhammadiyah is still lack of paying attention to the issues. Indeed, Muhammadiyah possesses scientists, but has not yet contributed to Indonesia in the development of economics and sciences. Thus, the issues should become our concern,” he asserted.

In the 47^th Muhammadiyah Congress, UMY contributed to several aspects as presenting Marching Band Drum Corps of UMY in congress opening parade. Besides, two candidates of Muhammadiyah chairman are lecturers of UMY, namely Prof. Dr. Yunahar Ilyas, Lc. M.Ag. (Professor of Islamic Faculty) and Dr. H. Haedar Nashir, M.Si. (a lecturer of ISIPOL Faculty). Recognizing both of the prospective chairman from UMY, the rector of UMY expected that they can inspire all academicians of UMY. “I wish that the circumstance will encourage us because lecturers of UMY can be elected to be the leader of the second greatest organization in Indonesia,” he ended.