The University of Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) has been appointed as a mentoring partner in the 2025 Regular Private University Strengthening Program (PP-PTS) by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. UMSU is assisting two private universities: Universitas Nagoya Indonesia (UNI) and Universitas Karimun.
One of the mentoring activities was a seven-day internship held from Monday to Saturday (October 27–November 1) at UMSU. Both partner universities completed internships in several units and institutions, including the Quality Assurance Agency (BPM), the Center for Curriculum and Learning Development (LPKP), and the Public Relations and Protocol Bureau.
At the closing of the program, the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of Universitas Karimun, Dr. Said Nuwrun Thasimmim, S.I.Kom., M.Si., expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to carry out the internship at UMSU.
“Thank you for giving us the opportunity to intern here. We gained a lot, and UMSU fully supported us throughout the program,” he said.
He added that the experience during the internship broadened their perspectives on university governance, particularly in branding and human resource development.
“In terms of private university governance, there is so much we learned that helps align our perspectives. We will immediately implement changes, especially in the area of branding, with a primary focus on human resources—especially public relations and protocol. After observing the trends, it’s clear that branding is now shaped by Generation Z,” he explained.
He further emphasized that the internship provided significant benefits for Universitas Karimun.
“We discovered many new insights that we can apply at Universitas Karimun. This program has been extremely helpful for us,” he said.
The Dean of the Faculty of Economics at Universitas Nagoya Indonesia also expressed high appreciation for the program.
“Thank you to the entire UMSU team. Our expectations were far exceeded. We also felt a very positive and inspiring academic atmosphere,” he stated.
He noted that the outcomes of the internship program were highly impactful and could be implemented immediately at their campus.
“The output is excellent. After this program, we can begin making improvements right away. Even though the program has ended, we are committed to continuing the improvement process. UMSU’s education system is far more advanced and serves as a model for us,” he added.
This program is part of the broader PP-PTS activities, which include not only internships but also a return visit to Universitas Karimun in the form of in-house training involving BPM and the Center for Higher Education Development and Leadership (LPKP).
During the same event, UMSU Vice Rector I, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arifin, M.Hum., stated that UMSU’s current achievements are the result of a long process and sustained commitment.
“What UMSU has achieved is the result of a long, continuous process grounded in strong commitment and attention to all aspects,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of collaborative spirit in improving accreditation and institutional quality.
“We continuously push activities that enhance accreditation. We work together and keep moving forward, even if one institution plays the leading role. Strong commitment in managing a university is crucial, and that commitment will be passed down to the next generation,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the PP-PTS Program Coordinator, Dr. Mujahiddin, M.SP., added that building a strong institution requires reliable and dedicated human resources.
“This hard work requires competent people. We also continue learning; anything good and beneficial is worth replicating,” he said.
He concluded by encouraging each university to adapt its policies according to its internal conditions.
“Create rules and guidelines that match the context of each institution. Everything we do is for the advancement of our universities. Hopefully, we all achieve the best results,” he remarked.
