FAI UMS and FPIPS UPI Sign MoA, Strengthening Academic Collaboration and Global Networks

The Faculty of Islamic Studies (FAI) of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) has strengthened its commitment to improving educational quality and expanding academic networks through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Faculty of Social Sciences Education (FPIPS) of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) at the UPI Campus in Bandung on Tuesday (14/7/2026).

The signing of the MoA represents a strategic step for the two faculties in developing collaboration in education, research, community service, and higher education internationalization. The event took place as part of FAI UMS's academic visit to FPIPS UPI and was witnessed by program heads, lecturers, and academic delegates from both institutions.

The Vice Dean II of FAI UMS, Dr. Istanto, S.Pd.I., M.Pd., said the cooperation is part of FAI UMS's commitment to continuously expanding academic networks while improving the quality of the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education.

"Through this cooperation, we hope that various collaborative programs will emerge, which not only strengthen the quality of education and research but also enhance the institution's competitiveness at both national and international levels. This synergy is a concrete step for FAI UMS in building a sustainable academic network," he said on Friday (17/7/2026).

In line with this, the Vice Dean II of FPIPS UPI, Prof. Dr. Wawan Darmawan, S.Pd., M.Hum., views inter-faculty collaboration as an important strategy in addressing the increasingly complex challenges of higher education.

"This collaboration opens up opportunities for the development of cross-disciplinary knowledge and strengthens the exchange of academic ideas and experiences. We hope this cooperation will produce innovations that benefit both institutions as well as the wider community," he said.

Through the MoA, FAI UMS and FPIPS UPI have committed to developing various collaborative programs, ranging from joint research, international scientific publications, guest lectures, faculty and student exchanges, and academic seminars to curriculum development and community service activities.

The collaboration also opens the door to cross-disciplinary studies that integrate Islamic education with social sciences, educational technology, character education, digital literacy, and global humanitarian issues. This synergy is expected to produce learning innovations that are relevant to the development of knowledge and the needs of society.

Cooperation at the faculty level is seen as providing broader space for sharing academic resources, institutional experience, research results, and best practices in the management of higher education. This way, the implementation of various programs can proceed in a more focused and sustained manner, delivering benefits for the academic community of both universities.

For FAI UMS, the signing of this MoA is part of its effort to strengthen academic quality while enhancing the presence of Islamic education within the global education network. Meanwhile, FPIPS UPI gains the opportunity to expand collaboration in the development of social sciences-based education, integrated with religious values and the needs of modern society.

The partnership reflects the commitment of both institutions to building a model of higher education that is rooted in local values while remaining adaptive to the development of knowledge and global dynamics.

As a follow-up, FAI UMS and FPIPS UPI will develop a more measurable implementation program through a subsequent cooperation agreement that will outline targets, implementation schedules, and academic outcomes in greater detail.

During the academic visit, the FAI UMS delegation was led by Vice Dean II Dr. Istanto, S.Pd.I., M.Pd., and accompanied by Dartim, S.Pd., M.Pd.; Dr. Hafidz, M.Pd.I.; Mohammad Zakki Azani, S.Th.I., M.Ed., Ph.D.; Dr. Muh. Nur Rochim Maksum, S.Pd.I., M.Pd.I.; Muhammad Wildan Shohib, S.Pd.I., M.Ed., Ph.D.; Nurul Latifatul Inayati, S.Pd.I., M.Pd.I.; along with international students from the Islamic Religious Education Program of UMS.

Through this collaboration, both faculties affirm their commitment to delivering higher education that is high-quality, collaborative, innovative, and capable of addressing global challenges through synergy between educational institutions.

Writer: Fika Annisa Sholihah

Editor: Maysali Sudarwati

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid