A birthplace of Prophet Muhammad, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is well-known as a center for Islamic studies such as Tauhid and Fiqh. Besides, the KSA also becomes a center for science taught in many higher education institutions.

In a visit of Indonesian Education and Culture Attaché (Atdikbud) in Riyadh Dr. Ahmad Ubaidillah to Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) on Sunday (8/9) informed that the KSA is looking for partner to conduct research. “Indonesia is a potential country having a lot of leading universities. The occasion to cooperate has not been utilized by many higher education institutions in Indonesia, but some universities have collaborate with KSA universities in an educational field,” he declared.

Ubaidilah encouraged UMY to leverage the opportunity. “A number of KSA universities focus on agriculture such as King Saud University (KSU) and King Abdulaziz University (KAU). Both universities are the most leading universities in research, technology and social science. We have to use the chance to enhance educational quality in Indonesia and to diminish a stigma that Indonesia is a supporting country,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, Vice Rector for Student and Alumni Affairs of UMY Hilman Latief, Ph.D. stated that UMY would follow up the occasion this semester. “We are going to formulate the cooperation and we will visit to the KSA universities to collaborate with them,” told Hilman.