UMS Physical Education Program Forges Global Collaboration with Wuhan Sports University

The Physical Education (Penjas) Program of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), continues to expand its international network through the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wuhan Sports University (WHSU), China. The signing, which took place from 16 to 19 July 2026, is part of UMS's commitment to strengthening the internationalization of higher education through the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education.

The UMS Physical Education delegation was led by the Head of the Program, Dr. Eko Sudarmanto, S.Pd., M.Or., accompanied by Agam Akhmad Syaukani, S.Si., M.Ed., Ph.D., who served as facilitator and academic liaison throughout the activities. The delegation was officially welcomed by Dr. Du Geng, representing Wuhan Sports University.

The MoU implementation agenda focused on strengthening collaboration in education, research, and community service. In addition to discussing opportunities for joint research, the two institutions also explored the development of faculty and student exchange programs, the organization of international seminars, reputable scholarly publications, and the development of curricula responsive to the global advancement of sport science.

The Head of the UMS Physical Education Program, Dr. Eko Sudarmanto, emphasized that international cooperation is a strategic step to improve academic quality while boosting the program's competitiveness at the global level. According to him, this MoU implementation reflects the UMS Physical Education Program's commitment to developing the Tri Dharma of Higher Education through international networks.

The WHSU representative, Dr. Du Geng (left), poses with the Head of the UMS Physical Education Program, Dr. Eko Sudarmanto, S.Pd., M.Or. (right), on 17 July 2026.

"We believe that collaboration with Wuhan Sports University not only expands the academic space for lecturers and students, but also serves as a bridge for producing innovative research, higher-quality learning, and community service with global impact," he said on Tuesday (21/7/2026).

He said that internationalization is not merely about multiplying foreign partnerships, but about building an academic ecosystem that encourages the exchange of knowledge, scholarly culture, and innovation. According to him, learning experiences from internationally reputable institutions will enrich the perspectives of both lecturers and students in addressing the future challenges of sports education.

"We hope this cooperation grows into a sustained strategic partnership that delivers concrete contributions to the advancement of physical education and sport science," he added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Du Geng expressed his appreciation for the partnership established with UMS. He views the two institutions as sharing a common vision for developing sports education based on research and innovation.

Du Geng said the implementation of the MoU marks the beginning of various mutually beneficial academic programs, ranging from collaborative research and academic community exchange to human resource capacity development.

During the visit, the UMS delegation took part in various academic activities, including discussions on the sports learning system at WHSU, presentations of recent research findings in sport science, and visits to the exercise physiology laboratory, biomechanics laboratory, high-performance sports fitness center, and athlete training facilities at Wuhan Sports University. The delegation also gained insight into the application of sports technology in elite athlete development, which is one of WHSU's strengths.

The discussion forum between UMS and WHSU also produced several priority programs, including the organization of international guest lectures, joint research targeted for publication in internationally reputable journals, student mobility, faculty exchange, and the development of curricula based on international standards.

Agam Akhmad Syaukani, who guided the entire series of activities, ensured that academic communication between the two institutions ran effectively. Drawing on his experience and international networks, the various discussion sessions produced a number of shared understandings on the implementation of the cooperation going forward.

Writer: Fika Annisa’ Sholihah

Editor: Gede Arga Adrian

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid