Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Malaysia, have officially entered into an international partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening collaboration in education, research, and community engagement.
The MoU was signed by UMSU Rector Prof. Dr. Akrim, M.Pd., and UniSZA Deputy Vice Chancellor (TNC), Prof. Dr. Fadzli bin Adam, on Thursday, June 18, at UniSZA’s Gong Badak Campus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
Through this strategic partnership, both institutions aim to develop a wide range of collaborative academic and research initiatives that will benefit their universities and the broader community.
Prof. Akrim explained that one of the primary areas of collaboration is Ilmu Falak (Islamic Astronomy), a field of excellence shared by both UMSU and UniSZA.
“We hope this partnership will extend far beyond a formal agreement on paper. It should become a strong foundation for both universities to enhance the quality of higher education, expand international networks, and foster impactful collaborative programs that benefit society and the academic community,” said the Rector.
Meanwhile, UniSZA Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Fadzli bin Adam emphasized the importance of international conferences as platforms for exchanging ideas, research findings, and professional experiences.
“International conferences provide valuable opportunities for scholars to exchange ideas and experiences. We also plan to organize the International Conference on Ilmu Falak in 2026,” he said.
The partnership will also encompass leadership training for higher education institutions, student mobility programs, and exchange opportunities for educational support personnel (non-academic staff) to strengthen institutional capacity and enhance human resource development.
The signing ceremony was attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zailani, M.A., Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies (FAI) UMSU; Rafieqah Nalar Rizky, S.Sos., M.A., Head of the Office of International Cooperation (OIC); Dr. Arwin Juli Rakhmadi Butar-Butar, M.A., Head of the Observatory of Islamic Astronomy (OIF), along with his team; and Prof. Ts. Dr. Shukor Bin Abd Razak, UniSZA’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation.
The collaboration reflects both universities’ shared commitment to advancing academic excellence, promoting international engagement, and generating meaningful contributions through education, research, and community service.
