Brawijaya University (UB) received a working visit and benchmarking from Universitas Darussalam Gontor on Wednesday, 13 December 2023, in the Banquet Room of the Rectorate Building, 6th floor, Brawijaya University. This visit was attended by a number of leaders and representatives from both universities.
Present at the event was the Rector of UB, Prof. Widodo, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D.Med.Sc, as well as UB leadership, including the Vice Rector for Cooperation, Innovation and Internationalization, the Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Alumni and Entrepreneurship, the Director of the Administration and Academic Services, Director of the Directorate of Career and Alumni Development, Director of the Directorate of Cooperation, Head of UPT Library, Secretary of the Directorate of Student Affairs, and Secretary of the Directorate of Cooperation.
Meanwhile, from Darussalam Gontor University, the Rector of Unida, Prof. Dr. K.H. Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi, M.A.Ed., M.Phil., Vice Rector I, Vice Rector II, Vice Rector III, Head of Bureau, Head of Section, and other leadership.
In his speech, Prof. Widodo expressed his gratitude for the visit from Darussalam Gontor University. He highlighted UB’s efforts to equip students to become complete human beings, understand diversity, and be adaptive in various fields, including religious aspects.
“UB wants to transform from a large number of undergraduate students to postgraduate students. However, this challenge is not easy since the need for Indonesian people to continue their studies to postgraduate level is still limited. “Therefore, UB wants to collaborate with other universities to increase the number of postgraduate students,” added Prof. Widodo
Prof. Hamid Fahmy from Darussalam Gontor University explained the history of the university’s founding, which began with the establishment of an Islamic boarding school in 1926. Unida has a unique approach by embracing both academic and non-academic aspects. Students are boarded, and every activity, both academic and non-academic, has a value that is recorded and used as a credit number to support the student’s academics.
“Exemplary students at Unida are those who have a balance between academic and non-academic. This is an integral part of student character formation,” said Prof. Hamid Fahmy
Touching on Unida’s future plans, Prof. Hamid Fahmy stated that in 2023, Unida has been declared superior and has the right to establish a medical faculty. This faculty will implement a dormitory system with the vision and mission of creating doctors with santri spirit and contribute to community development.
Both universities agree that internationalization is future important focus. UB has collaborated with non-Arab countries, such as Japan and Taiwan, while Unida hopes to learn from UB’s experience, especially regarding international accreditation for study programs. Collaboration in various fields, including human resources, libraries and study programs.
It is hoped that this visit can strengthen the synergy between UB and Unida, open wider collaboration opportunities, and support improving the quality of higher education in Indonesia. (WDD/ UB PR/ Trans. Iir)
