UMS Once Again Brings Pride to Indonesia, Students Win Silver Medal at International Innovation Event in Japan

Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) has once again made its mark on the international stage. Through the collaboration of its students, UMS successfully won a Silver Medal at the Japan Design, Idea, & Invention Expo (JDIE) 2026 in Japan, through a digital innovation focused on the protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI).

The achievement was won by a team consisting of students from various UMS study programs: Syaban Al Musyaffa Ibnu Ahmad from the Accounting Program, Yuanda Eka Saputra from the Informatics Engineering Education Program, Fauzan Muhammad Ihsan from the Management Program, Irfan Malik Tamroini from the Islamic Education Program, and Afnan Zain Muzakki from the Public Health Program. The team also collaborated with Ahmad Dzaky Mubarok from UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta.

"In this competition, our team developed SafeTKI, a digital platform based on blockchain and smart contract technology designed to enhance cross-border protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers," said team leader Syaban Al Musyaffa Ibnu Ahmad in an interview on Thursday (9/7/2026).

The innovation, he continued, offers a system that is more secure, transparent, and integrated, from the recruitment process through to the placement period of workers abroad. By leveraging blockchain technology, SafeTKI is able to create a data recording system that is more transparent and difficult to manipulate. Meanwhile, the application of smart contracts allows employment agreements to be executed automatically in accordance with the terms that have been set.

"This innovation is expected to minimize the risks of data misuse, employment contract violations, and various administrative issues that Indonesian migrant workers still face today. In this way, the protection of PMI rights can be realized more optimally through the use of digital technology," he concluded.

The team's advisor, Hardika Dwi Hermawan, S.Pd., M.Sc., views the silver medal achievement at JDIE 2026 as recognition that UMS students are capable of producing innovations that are not only academically outstanding but also relevant in addressing global issues.

"This achievement reaffirms that the learning ecosystem based on research, innovation, and collaboration at UMS is running well. It also shows that UMS students are able to compete at the global level while delivering innovations that create real social impact," he said.

According to Hardika, SafeTKI was born from the students' concern for the various challenges still faced by Indonesian migrant workers, from limited legal literacy and security issues to inadequate preparation before working abroad. Because the innovation is oriented toward user needs (human-centered innovation), it offers not only technological novelty but also strong social value.

He explained that the students served as the main actors throughout the entire development process of SafeTKI, from identifying the problem and formulating the solution to preparing for the competition.

Meanwhile, the role of the academic advisor was more focused on providing academic direction, strategic input, and motivation, ensuring that the innovation being developed remained on track and responsive to the real needs of society. Hardika also views cross-disciplinary collaboration as the team's main strength in producing more comprehensive solutions.

The award was presented as part of the Japan Design, Idea & Invention Expo (JDIE) 2026, held on 3 to 4 July 2026 at the Kansai Airport Conference Halls, Osaka, Japan.

Writer: Yusuf Ismail

Editor: Fika Annisa’ Sholihah

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid