DEPOK – A delegation from Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) met with the leadership of Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) on Friday, December 5, 2025, solidifying the commitment between the two institutions to activate their strategic partnership.

The meeting, held at the UIII Rectorate building in Depok, focused on translating a previously signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) into actionable programs in research and academic publication.

The UMY delegation was led by Prof. Dr. Zuly Qodir, the vice rector for education and student affairs. He is an expert in conflict management, public policy, and political sociology who serves as a lecturer in the Islamic Politics Doctoral program. He was joined by Diah Setyawati Dewanti, SE., M.Sc., Ph.D., from the Directorate of Education, a lecturer and researcher in Economics; and dr. Maria Ulfa, MMR., Ph.D., a lecturer at the UMY Medical School and Head of the Sub-Directorate for Work Partnerships and Employability. Their multidisciplinary expertise underscores the broad potential for collaboration.

The group was warmly received by UIII Rector Prof. Jamhari, alongside key university officials including University Secretary Dr. Chaider Bamualim, Acting Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Dr. Phil Syafiq Hasyim, and Director of Research and Cooperation Dr. Saiful Umam. Also present, the Acting Dean of Faculty of Economics and Business, Teguh Yudo Wicaksono, PhD and Bhirawa Anoraga, PhD the Secretary of the MA Program and a lecturer at UIII.

In his remarks, Prof. Zuly Qodir emphasized the importance of collaborative work in today’s academic landscape. “Many of our lecturers are already active in international research, but we see a great need to expand our cooperation with more universities to enhance the quality and reach of our joint publications,” he stated.

Rector Prof. Jamhari affirmed this direction, highlighting the move from agreement to implementation. “The MoU between UIII and UMY is already in place. What we now urgently need are the concrete steps for real cooperation,” said Prof. Jamhari.

The discussion centered on forging substantive collaboration in research and publication, with both parties agreeing to facilitate academic exchanges and joint publishing initiatives.

The partnership also outlines future initiatives, including the exchange of lecturers to serve as external examiners for thesis defenses at both institutions.

This high-level meeting marks a significant step in strengthening the academic network between UMY and UIII, promising to create valuable opportunities for faculty and students at both institutions. []