The Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Ekonomi (STIE) Bankinang conducted a study visit to Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) as part of a networking initiative and to establish academic cooperation, marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The event took place on Thursday (May 15) in the VIP Room of the UMSU Campus, located on Jalan Muchtar Basri No. 3, Medan. UMSU Rector, Prof. Dr. Agussani, MAP, personally welcomed the visiting delegation of students accompanied by STIE Bankinang leadership.
Also in attendance were UMSU Vice Rector I, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arifin, M.Hum, STIE Bankinang Vice Chairman III, Dr. Ir. H. Arman, M.M., UMSU Faculty Deans, and over 70 students from STIE Bankinang.
During the visit, STIE Bankinang Vice Chairman I, Dr. Ir. H. Azmhir Basem, M.M., expressed his admiration for UMSU’s progress. He likened STIE Bankinang’s current development stage to a journey just beginning, compared to UMSU’s significant accomplishments.
“If UMSU is carving its name on a polished board, we are still carving on wood. But, Mr. Rector, we are inspired. This visit gives us valuable insights to help shape a better future. The proactive spirit and character we see at UMSU are qualities we aim to adopt,” he said.
Dr. Azmhir noted that UMSU’s professional and modern management could serve as a model for STIE Bankinang. He also highlighted the trust placed in UMSU by the 2027 Muhammadiyah Congress as a testament to the institution’s credibility and advancement.
“The confidence shown by the Congress in UMSU under Prof. Agussani’s leadership is certainly well-founded. We hope our own institutional roadmap will lead to similar growth and transformation. We are also open to tangible collaborations,” he added.
As a gesture of appreciation, Dr. Azmhir mentioned that UMSU would be a top recommendation for students or community members from Bankinang interested in pursuing medical education.
In his welcome speech, UMSU Rector Prof. Dr. Agussani, MAP, expressed his gratitude for the visit, emphasizing that this collaboration reflects UMSU’s ongoing efforts to strengthen networks and share institutional development experiences.
“This is part of our commitment to collaborate, share, and build academic networks. I hope this visit leads to concrete outcomes, not just ceremonial formalities,” said Prof. Agussani.
He went on to describe UMSU’s journey and achievements in recent years, stating the university’s ambition to become a world-class institution.
“We aspire to make UMSU a world-class university. Alhamdulillah, we’ve reached several milestones—such as the recent upgrade of our postgraduate law program’s accreditation from ‘Very Good’ to ‘Excellent’ and being ranked the No. 1 Islamic university in the world by UniRank 2025. These are the fruits of hard work and collective commitment,” he added.
Prof. Agussani also highlighted the importance of campus digitalization in attracting younger generations, particularly Gen Z. UMSU has invested in modern communication tools like its campus radio and TV stations to support public education and institutional branding.
“To engage with the younger generation, digitalization is essential. We’ve developed campus media—radio and TV—as modern tools for communication and learning,” he explained.
Regarding the Muhammadiyah Congress, the Rector outlined plans for the development of an integrated campus, in line with the Congress outcomes, to support future academic expansion and increased student capacity.
The event continued with the MoU signing between STIE Bankinang and UMSU, symbolizing a commitment to academic collaboration, including experience-sharing and joint development initiatives in the three pillars of higher education: teaching, research, and community service.
The MoU was officially signed by UMSU Rector Prof. Dr. Agussani, MAP, and STIE Bankinang Vice Chairman I, Dr. Ir. H. Azmhir Basem, M.M., witnessed by UMSU Vice Rector I, Prof. Dr. Arifin Gultom, M.Hum, STIE Bankinang Vice Chairman III, Dr. Ir. H. Arman, M.M., and faculty deans from UMSU.
The visit concluded with a discussion session, group photos, and a short tour of UMSU’s top facilities, including its media studios, radio station, and PUSKIIBI (UMSU’s Center for Islamic Studies and Business Innovation).
