Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) always attempts to expand its partnership with educational institutions in Indonesia and overseas. The efforts are in accordance with its tagline ‘Muda Mendunia’ and aims to embody a world class university. On Thursday (14/9) at director meeting room of Graduate School of UMY, UMY signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Asia University, Taiwan. UMY was represented by Prof. Achmad Nurmandi, M.Sc. and deans of several faculties of UMY while Asia University was represented by Prof. Jenny, Huei-Chenko, Liang-Yo Yang DVM, Ph.D, Prof Yinghuei Chen, Prof. dan Chih-Yang Huang.

Vice Rector for Cooperation and International Affairs of UMY Prof. Achmad Nurmandi, M.Sc. stated that expected that the cooperation can reinforce relations of both institution and can enhance their quality in various areas. “10 students will be prepare to join a student exchange program in Asia University or we may have a unique program conducted in Yogyakarta for a year and in Taiwan in the other year,” he declared.

Meanwhile, Prof. Jenny, Huei-Chenki told that the cooperation is the stepping stone to establish Taiwan Education Center of Asia University in Yogyakarta. The establishment will also collaborate with UMY.

Asia University is younger than UMY but it can be the world’s top 100 universities so that it brings quite huge advantages for UMY. Dean Office of Global Affairs as well as Professor of School of Medicine Liang-Yo Yang DVM, Ph.D. said the students joining a student exchange program will be provided by incredible facilities so that they will bring good changes for their higher education when they come back.

In the MoA signing, both parties discussed collaborating programs, financial issues, and etc. Dean Collage of Humanities and Social Science Prof. Yinghuei Chen maintained that the main program is dealing with language. “The foremost issue is regarding the Chinese language. When the language can be mastered, other problem must be overcome,” he conveyed.