Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) and Istanbul Zaim University (IZU) officially signed an international cooperation agreement on Friday (August 1).
The agreement was signed by UMSU Rector Prof. Dr. Agussani, MAP, represented by UMSU Vice Rector III Dr. Rudianto, M.Si., and IZU Rector Prof. Dr. Ismail Kucuk.
This collaboration marks part of UMSU’s strategy to advance its internationalization agenda and strengthen its efforts toward becoming a World Class University.
Previously, UMSU also signed a partnership with the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (INRAG), Egypt.
IZU Rector, Prof. Dr. Ismail Kucuk, expressed appreciation for the visit of the Muhammadiyah North Sumatra delegation and UMSU representatives to Istanbul Zaim University.
He remarked, “We are grateful for this partnership between UMSU and IZU. We hope this collaboration will continue to grow and strengthen ties between Indonesia and Turkey in the future.”
The cooperation will be followed up with concrete academic programs in Islamic studies as well as other fields.
UMSU Vice Rector III, Dr. Rudianto, highlighted that UMSU is among 172 Muhammadiyah and Aisyiyah universities (PTMA) accredited with the highest rating. He emphasized that internationalization remains a major priority for UMSU, particularly through fostering global interactions in research, community service, and international internships.
“Our partnership with Istanbul Zaim University represents a new chapter of international cooperation in Europe, following our expansion in several Asian countries,” said Dr. Rudianto.
He further explained that the agreement is a continuation of the Turkey Academic Fair 2025 in Medan, where UMSU chose IZU as a partner due to its strong history and reputation in advancing civilization and scholarship.
“There are many opportunities for collaboration, especially in the three pillars of higher education—teaching, research, and community engagement—along with student exchanges and joint research initiatives. We also thank the Turkish Consulate General in Medan, Tun Rahmad Shah, for facilitating this partnership,” he added.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prof. Dr. Hasyimsyah Nasution, MA (Chairman of Muhammadiyah North Sumatra), along with other Muhammadiyah leaders including Prof. Dr. Kamal Basri Siregar, Prof. Dr. Ali Imran, M.Ag., Dr. Sulidar, Drs. Mahmud Yunus Daulay, MA, Dr. Hasrat Effendi, Drs. Mario Kasduri, MA, Ustadz Irwan Syahputra, Drs. Mutholib, MM, and Dr. Muhammad Qorib.
From UMSU, attendees included Dr. Januri (Dean of Economics and Business), Dr. Munawar Al-Fansuri (Dean of Engineering), Dr. Faisal (Dean of Law), Dr. Muhammad Qorib (Dean of Islamic Studies), and Dr. Arwin Juli Rahmadi Butar-Butar (Head of OIF UMSU).
On the IZU side, the event was also attended by representatives from the International Students and Relations Office, including Rumeysa Yulmaz and the Vice Coordinator for International Students and Relations.
Prior to the signing, the UMSU delegation and Aisyiyah leaders toured the IZU campus facilities.
Founded in 2010, Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University (IZU) is a private university in Istanbul, Turkey. It offers a wide range of faculties, including Engineering and Natural Sciences (Architecture, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Food Engineering), Economics and Political Sciences (Economics, Management, International Trade and Finance, Islamic Economics and Finance), Law, Health Sciences (Nursing, Social Work, Health Management, Nutrition and Dietetics), and Social Sciences (Political Science and International Relations, History, Psychology, Sociology).
The university frequently organizes academic events such as symposiums and festivals, including the Turkish Language Festival and the Islamic Economics and Finance Forum. It also hosts sports activities like the İZÜ Sports Festival.
Currently, Istanbul Zaim University is ranked 5,774 globally and 106th nationally in Turkey. Its main campus is located in Halkalı, Istanbul, featuring facilities such as libraries, laboratories, and sports centers. Notably, the university library houses an extensive collection of books and scholarly references accessible 24 hours a day.
