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| Wamenaker RI Sharing Session (Photo: Lintang Public Relations) |
Deputy Minister (Wamen) of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia, Ir. Afriansyah Noor, M.Si. IPU., praised the breakthrough Center of Excellence (CoE) program at Muhammadiyah University of Malang (UMM). He expressed this during a visit and sharing session held at the Senate Meeting Room (RSS) on the White Campus on June 27. According to him, the CoE, which has been running since 2017, is highly relevant in preparing graduates to directly enter the business and industrial sectors (DUDI). During the visit, he also toured the CoE classrooms and UMM's vocational programs, witnessing firsthand the preparation of excellent human resources at the White Campus.
"I am impressed with the CoE program and also the Professor as a Community Development Catalyst (P3M). I believe this is a valuable asset, not only for UMM but also for young people and graduates who will compete in the job market. Moreover, this can also prepare us for Indonesia Emas 2045 and serve as a significant asset for collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower," Afriansyah remarked.
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Furthermore, Afriansyah stated that he is not surprised by UMM's ability to generate progressive ideas in the education sector. He highlighted that the Muhammadiyah organization is renowned for actively producing scholars who have been entrusted with various governmental roles, including Minister of Education, Minister Coordinator for Human Development and Culture, among others.
"The educational ecosystem at UMM, in my opinion, is highly optimized. Students can learn on campus, benefit from excellent facilities and programs, and develop strong skills ready for the workforce. They can even become experts abroad, which is crucial as we currently lack skilled professionals who can compete internationally, beyond domestic household assistant roles," he clarified.
Finally, he hoped that UMM's White Campus could become a driving force and a model for the education system in Indonesia. "If future Ministers of Education and Culture come from Muhammadiyah, especially those who initiated the CoE, I am optimistic that Indonesia will continue to progress. It is time for these education experts to shape policy," he stated.
On the other hand, UMM Board of Trustees (BPH) Prof. Dr. Fauzan, M.Pd. explained that the White Campus fundamentally serves two important missions to address the nation's challenges and needs. These missions include preparing outstanding human resources and deploying expert specialists directly to society. He emphasized that educational institutions must fulfill these dual missions, as national progress hinges significantly on education.
"UMM introduced CoE based on its study programs, aimed at preparing students for the workforce. However, it's important to note that these experts, namely professors, must also engage with society and provide solutions. That's why UMM has launched the P3M program, encouraging professors to make breakthroughs and serve communities directly, thereby dispelling the notion that professors are exclusive," the CoE initiator at UMM added.
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Fauzan also mentioned education downstreaming, optimizing all educational products for optimal utilization, including research outcomes, ideas, programs, and more. "I even have a new term that can be used: PT. UMM Downstreaming. This ensures that all UMM products contribute to a well-structured ecosystem, aiming for the nation's benefit," he explained.
Meanwhile, UMM Rector Prof. Dr. Nazaruddin Malik, M.Si. explained that the visit by the Deputy Minister of Manpower serves as new motivation and inspiration. Particularly in enhancing UMM's program orientation to meet the demands of both domestic and international job markets. "Hopefully, this will lead to a fruitful collaboration between UMM and the Ministry of Manpower," he concluded. (faq/wil)
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