Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam (STAI) Muhammadiyah Tulungagung visited Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) on Tuesday (8/11). Visiting Muhammadiyah-affiliated universities is a way to interweave good relationship among them.

The visit was attended by eight lecturers of STAI Muhammadiyah Tulungagung, while UMY’s parties were represented by Vice Rector II Dr. Suryo Pratolo, M.Si., Akt., Head of Academic Office of UMY Drs. Bambang Rahmanto, Head of International Student Office of International Relations Office Idham Badruzzaman, S.IP., M.A.

Both parties shared their own educational system at A.R. Fachruddin A. Head of Academic Office of UMY, Dr. Bambang Rahmanto, told that both parties discussed how to enhance their academic quality.

“We will discuss student admission, quality assurance agencies, and cooperation. We also presented how to propose a new program to Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education (Kemenristek DIKTI) and meeting the requirements using online system,” Bambang stated.

Meanwhile, a representative of STAI Muhammadiyah Tulungagung, Nur Amin, said,” As Muhammadiyah-affiliated higher education institutions, we would like to cooperate with several Muhammadiyah-affiliated universities. The cooperation aims at fostering quality among the universities and improving accreditation.”

Amin informed that STAI Muhammadiyah Tulungagung offers three programs. “The number of students of STAI Muhammadiyah Tulungagung is not as many as the number of UMY’s students. The accreditation of STAI is C. Thus, we have to learn from other universities, especially UMY, to improve the accreditation,” Amin asserted.