Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) concerns with various issues, particularly health issues, since the university always commit to enhancing quality of life of the community. UMY collaborated with 17 Indonesian and foreign institutions to create an alliance to foster health education quality.

They were associated in Taiwan-Indonesia Health Care Education (TIHE). The institutions signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a conference hall Graduate School of UMY on Monday (11/9).

Vice Rector for Student, Alumni, Al-Islam and Muhammadiyah Movement Affairs Hilman Latief, M.A., Ph.D. believed that this alliance will be a stepping stone to improve the quality of health education in each institution. “As a social organization, health is an essential issue for Muhammadiyah. Having more than 40 million members, Muhammadiyah possesses a lot of higher education institutions, schools and hospitals, which aim to educate and serve community. Hence, developing health sciences are vital to lift the quality of life. This becomes the objective of the alliance establishment,” conveyed Hilman in his opening remark.

Besides, President of National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Science (NTUNHS) Dr. Nan-Chen Hsieh asserted that the alliance can be an essential breakthrough for the health science development. “I believe that this alliance will become a milestone to evolve each institution and to create a generation that is able to provide good health quality for our community,” stated Nan Chen.

In a presentation by a representative of NTUNHS, the TIHE will be a platform for its members to develop partnership among institutions. Later, the cooperation focuses on not only health issues but also other issues such as agriculture.

In addition, the alliance members comprises of National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences; School of of Health Sciences of Muhammadiyah Lhokseumawe, Aceh; Hsin Sheng Junior College of Medical Care and Management; School of Nursing of Muhammadiyah Pontianak, West Borneo; Cardinal Tien Junior College of Healthcare and Management; Universitas  Aisyiah Yogyakarta, D.I. Yogyakarta; Vanung University; Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto, Central Java; Fooyin University; STIKES Sari Mulia Banjarmasin, South Borneo; Hungkuang University; Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta; Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology; Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, D.I. Yogyakarta; Yuanpei University of Medical Technology; Universitas Muhammadiyah Bengkulu; University of Sebelas Maret; and Taiwan Center-Indonesia.