UMS Welcomes 8,195 New Students

Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) officially opened its 2026 New Student Orientation and Welcome Period (Masta PMB) as the starting point for 8,195 new students beginning their journey in higher education. Beyond that, this event also aims to build character, shaping students into future leaders who are Islamic, enlightening, excellent, globally minded, and impactful for society, held on Thursday (3/9/2026) at UMS's KH Ahmad Dahlan Edutorium Building.

Carrying the theme "I'M UMS: Journey from New Student to Islamic Future Impact Leader," Masta PMB 2026 was designed to be more than just a campus orientation activity. It is meant to serve as the starting point of new students' journey to get to know, internalize, and develop their potential as future Islamic Future Impact Leaders.

Students take part in UMS's 2026 New Student Orientation (Masta) at UMS's Edutorium, 3 September 2026. Photo: UMS Public Relations. 

UMS Rector, Prof. Dr. Harun Joko Prayitno, M.Hum., emphasized in his remarks the importance of academic transformation in preparing students to face future changes and challenges.

"Masta PMB 2026 marks a moment of welcoming new students with a different approach. Beyond affirming our commitment to conducting the program without any form of violence, the entire Masta PMB series is designed to be a joyful and enjoyable welcoming process," he said.

This concept plays an important role in shaping students' first impressions of university life. Masta PMB is expected to nurture spirit, enthusiasm, self-confidence, and the drive among new students to excel throughout their education at UMS.

"I pray that UMS students can graduate on time, or even in 3.5 years, since our university now allows graduation without a thesis," he added.

The Chair of the UMS Masta PMB 2026 Committee, Dr. Nur Aklis, S.T., M.Eng., explained that this year's Masta PMB series consists of the Grand Opening and Masta Universitaria, Masta Ke-IMM-an (IMM Orientation), Masta Fakultaria (Faculty-level Orientation), and the Student Club Expo (UKM Expo).

"The Grand Opening and Masta Universitaria event, as the opening of the series, was held on 3 September 2026 at UMS's Edutorium and attended by all new students," he explained.

This year, UMS admitted 8,195 new students from various regions across Indonesia. The presence of these thousands of students brings new energy to UMS, while also marking the beginning of their academic journey and character formation within the Muhammadiyah higher education environment.

"The welcoming process is designed to build a sense of belonging, introduce the university's values, inspire students, and ignite their spirit to keep growing," he added.

The opening of Masta PMB 2026 was also marked by the official pinning of new students, carried out by the UMS Rector, followed by the university's Vice Rectors. This moment served as a symbol marking the beginning of thousands of students' journeys as part of the extended UMS family.

"Masta PMB 2026 at UMS was not only attended by students from various regions across Indonesia, but also by international students. In 2026, UMS recorded a total of 45 foreign students pursuing education at various levels, consisting of 19 undergraduate (S1) students, 23 master's (S2) students, and 3 doctoral (S3) students," Aklis stated firmly.

The presence of these international students further strengthens UMS's inclusive and globally minded academic environment. Interaction among students from a wide range of regional and national backgrounds is expected to broaden perspectives, strengthen international networks, and serve as part of UMS's efforts to build a generation that is excellent and ready to compete on the global stage.

New student representative Anqiya Zaki Mushoddiq, from UMS's Faculty of Islamic Studies (FAI), explained that students who are truly competitive need to rest on three core character traits.

According to him, students must always remain humble and grateful, rather than relying solely on academic intelligence. They also need to have an open heart to accept criticism and steer clear of self-centeredness. In addition, the courage to set aside fear and try new things is an essential trait for facing the future.

This message echoes the thinking of national figure Buya Hamka regarding the importance of freeing oneself from laziness, which can become a shackle on both mind and body.

Students' vision for the future was further reinforced through remarks from UMS Vice Rector I, Prof. Ihwan Susila, S.E., M.Si., Ph.D. He encouraged new students to begin mapping out their own vision of success right from the start of their studies.

Students were encouraged to imagine where they would be and what role they would play ten years from now, whether as skilled professionals or independent entrepreneurs.

According to him, the steps toward that vision cannot be delayed. From day one of classes, students need to start building their competencies and track record through both academic and non-academic activities.

This awareness of future challenges was also reflected in an interactive survey conducted during the event. The majority of new students identified problem-solving ability as one of the most crucial skills for navigating today's rapidly evolving world.

"The entire learning process and set of competencies built during a student's time at university are expected to be calibrated with the needs of the global workforce, including future competencies that are a focus of attention for international bodies such as the World Economic Forum," Ihwan Susila stated firmly.

Writer: Fika Annisa’ Sholihah

Editor: Maysali Sudarwati

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid