The Inauguration of 5 Professors Strengthens UMS Role as an Intellectual Axis

Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) inaugurated five professors in an Open Senate Session held on Tuesday (20/1/2026) at the K.H. Ahmad Dahlan Edutorium, UMS. The event was attended by the university leadership, fellow professors, as well as the families and colleagues of the inaugurated professors.

The inauguration ceremony began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an and a prayer, creating a solemn and reverent atmosphere. The conferment of professorships served as a significant marker of the strengthening of UMS’s academic tradition, while also representing a concrete contribution to the advancement of interdisciplinary knowledge.

The five inaugurated professors come from various strategic fields of scholarship, namely:

• Prof. Dr. Ir. Suranto, S.T., M.M., M.Si., with the scholarly work titled “Technology-Based Business Incubators (Technopreneurship): Towards Graduate Independence (Potentials and Challenges)”, as the 66th Professor of UMS.
• Prof. Ir. Eko Setiawan, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., with the scholarly work “Living Side by Side with Disaster Risks: Endeavors Toward Disaster-Resilient Communities”, as the 67th Professor of UMS.
• Prof. Heru Supriyono, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., with the scholarly work “Applications of Instrumentation and Control in Various Fields in the Internet of Things (IoT) Era to Support Sustainable Development”, as the 68th Professor of UMS.
• Prof. Dr. Umi Budi Rahayu, S.St.Ft., M.Kes., with the scholarly work “Post-Stroke Neurorestoration: Physiotherapy Strategies to Improve Optimal Function”, as the 69th Professor of UMS.
• Prof. Andri Nirwana, S.Th., M.Ag., Ph.D., with the scholarly work “Qur’anic Exegesis and the Responsibility of National Ethics: Interpreting Asta Cita within the Horizon of the Qur’an”, as the 70th Professor of UMS.

Following the reading of the Decree of Professorship and the curriculum vitae by the Secretary of the UMS Senate, Prof. Dr. Anam Sutopo, M.Hum., the event continued with the screening of profile videos and short speeches delivered by the newly inaugurated professors.

The inauguration procession was carried out through the reading of the inauguration decree by the Chair of the Senate, followed by the draping of the professorial sash by the Rector of UMS, Prof. Dr. Harun Joko Prayitno, M.Hum., together with the Chair of the Senate, Prof. Dr. Absori, S.H., M.Hum.

The Head of the Higher Education Service Institution (LLDIKTI) Region VI Central Java, Prof. Dr. Aisyah Endah Palupi, M.Pd., in her remarks stated that UMS currently has 856 lecturers and holds great potential to continue increasing the number of professors.

“At present, the attainment of the professorial rank is no longer limited by age, and it is hoped that professors will be able to provide real impact and tangible benefits to society,” she said.

The Coordinator of Private Islamic Higher Education Institutions (Kopertais) Region X Central Java, Prof. Dr. H. Nizar, M.Ag., emphasized that professors carry moral, entrusted, and social responsibilities.

“In addition to serving as public leaders, professors must also appear as intellectual and moral leaders who actively disseminate knowledge in academic as well as social discussion spaces,” he stated.

The Rector of UMS also expressed his gratitude for the inauguration of the five professors. “At present, UMS has 70 professors and continues to encourage the acceleration of this achievement through the tagline ‘One UMS, One Professor’, while at the same time inviting the entire academic community to implement knowledge collaboratively and with impact,” he conveyed.

Chair of the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership Council for Higher Education, Research, and Development, Prof. Dr. Bambang Setiaji, M.Si. UMS PR

Meanwhile, the Chair of the Higher Education, Research, and Development Council (Diktilitbang) of the Central Leadership (PP) of Muhammadiyah, Prof. Dr. Bambang Setiaji, M.Si., expressed his appreciation for UMS’s achievement as the Muhammadiyah higher education institution with the highest number of professors.

“I always emphasize the importance of integrating scientific disciplines with Islamic values and encourage research that is simple, applicable, and capable of providing direct benefits to the community, particularly MSME actors,” he explained.

He further stated that the inauguration of the five professors serves as an important momentum for UMS in strengthening its strategic role as an intellectual axis of Muhammadiyah and Indonesia, while also reaffirming its commitment to the development of knowledge oriented toward the welfare of the ummah and the nation.

Writer: Dwi Kurniadi

Editor: Fika Annisa Sholihah

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid