The Rector of the University of Muhammadiyah North Sumatra (UMSU), Prof. Dr. Agussani, MAP, accompanied by Deputy Rector III, Dr. Rudianto, M.Si, welcomed 10 new students from Thailand.
This event also served as a gathering with the officials from the Islamic Association of Sheikh Daud Al Fathoni (JISDA) Thailand and the Indonesian Alumni Association – Thailand (PERSAIT). It took place on Thursday, August 31st, in the VIP Room at UMSU, located on Jalan Muchtar Basri No.3 in Medan.
During the occasion, UMSU’s Deputy Rector III, Dr. Rudianto, expressed that UMSU consistently provides opportunities for international students to study at the university. This year, there are approximately 23 international students from Thailand, Cambodia, Yemen, and India who will be studying at UMSU.
“This year, the scholarships we offer are structured and comprehensive, allowing us to admit approximately 20 international students every year,” Dr. Rudianto stated.
He also mentioned that the presence of international students is a source of pride and a great opportunity for the exchange of information and cultures.
“The scholarship program we provide is well-structured and easy to manage because we have the Office of International Affairs and Cooperation (OIC) to oversee it,” he added.
UMSU’s Deputy Rector III also reassured that international students at UMSU need not worry about language barriers because they will receive free Indonesian language instruction through the Bahasa Indonesia bagi Penutur Asing (BIPA) program one month before the start of their studies.
Meanwhile, the Head of OIC UMSU, Rafieqah Nalar Rizky, S.Sos., M.A, reported that the 10 international students in attendance hail from Pattani and Narathiwat in Thailand. They will be studying in various faculties, including 4 students in the Faculty of Islamic Studies (FAI), 3 in the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), and 3 in the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP).
“Thanks to UMSU, particularly the Rectorate, for providing our younger siblings, international students from other countries, especially our neighboring countries, with scholarships to study at UMSU,” Rafieqah expressed.
Lastly, Ruslan Charu, M.Si, representing JISDA, expressed gratitude for accepting their students to study at UMSU.
“On behalf of JISDA and its Rector, I bring our students here to study, especially at UMSU. Alhamdulillah, we express our gratitude for being accepted by UMSU. UMSU is the university that welcomes international students from Pattani, and UMSU is our destination, which we will continue to inherit,” Ruslan stated.
Also present at the event were Dr. Abdulrohman Mahae, M.M, who serves as the Supervisor of JISDA Students, Amina Chuma, S.Pd., M.Ed, M.M, Vice President of PESAIT, Halimah, BA, a member of PERSAIT, the leaders of FAI, FKIP, and FISIP, the UMSU OIC team, UMSU’s Ka Bimawa, and the new Thai students themselves.
