Translated by Mahaliza Mahadhir (
Pictures by Dr Azahar Kasim
UUM ONLINE: Jakarta - Indonesia is among the nations that have forged diplomatic relations since the beginning of Malaysia's independence in 1957. The close relationship between the two countries continues to be reinforced due to their shared historical ties, particularly in the field of higher education.
Indonesia and Malaysia have established a resilient collaborative alliance within the field of education, which requires further strengthening through diverse initiatives that can further enhance the bilateral ties between these two nations. For one, Malaysia offers affordable tuition fees, superior educational programmes and scholarships to facilitate the pursuit of higher education for Indonesian students.
To date, there have been notable efforts to enhance the bilateral relations between Malaysia and Indonesia, particularly in the field of higher education. This endeavour has gained momentum and holds significance for both Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) and Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Indonesia.
Hence, the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between UUM and two UINs, namely UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya and UIN Raden Fatah Palembang, served as a foundation for these three esteemed institutions of higher education learning to establish collaboration aimed at advancing their respective higher education institutions.
UUM was represented by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr Mohd Foad Sakdan, while UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya was represented by its Rector, Prof. Akh. Muzakki and UIN Raden Fatah Palembang was represented by its Rector, Prof. Dr Nyayu Khodijah.
Through the agreement signed on 18 July, UUM will collaborate with the two UINs to enhance the marketability of academic programmes and provide Indonesian students with the opportunity to pursue master's level studies under the sponsorship of the Indonesian Ministry of Religion (Kemenag).
This historic moment was witnessed by the Minister of Higher Education Malaysia, Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin as well as the Director-General of Higher Education, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, Prof. Dr Azlinda Azman.
The collaboration between UUM and the two UINs demonstrates a strong dedication and seriousness in their efforts to enhance the quality of higher education in the country to an international standard.
In addition, this initiative represents the university's effort to increase academic and research outcomes while also attracting students and faculty staff from universities in UIN to pursue higher education at UUM.
For the record, on 29 May, UUM signed MoUs with three other UINs, namely UIN Ar-Raniy Banda Aceh, UIN Mataram and UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung. This brings the total number of Indonesian UINs that have signed MoUs and MoAs with UUM to five.
Meanwhile, UUM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr Mohd Foad said, the selection of UUM signifies a notable acknowledgement of its international standing. This collaboration enables selected Indonesian students to pursue postgraduate studies through the academic partnership between UUM and UIN, with the financial support from Kemenag.
Interestingly, eligible students will be awarded scholarship sponsorship to further their education and gain international exposure. This initiative aims to develop holistic human capital, equip future leaders, educators and professionals for the 'Land of the Garuda'.
The first cohort of the Kemenag-sponsored students to UUM will commence their studies in September 2023. Each Kemenag-sponsored student will undertake a one-year of master's programme at UUM, followed by an additional year of master's studies at the UIN involved. This will enable them to receive two master's certificates from the two universities upon successful completion of their studies within two years.
Kemenag is responsible for overseeing 27 UINs across Indonesia. Additionally, it provides scholarships to both UIN students and lecturers, enabling them to pursue their studies at leading universities around the world.
The collaboration between UUM and Kemenag generally involves academic collaboration in an effort to increase the marketability of the academic programmes offered by UIN.
The schools from UUM involved in this academic partnership include the Islamic Business School (IBS), the School of Multimedia Technology and Communication (SMMTC) and the School of Education (SOE).