Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) has signed an international collaboration agreement with the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), Egypt. The agreement was signed by UMSU Vice Rector III, Dr. Rudianto, M.Si., and NRIAG Director, Prof. Dr. Taha Rabah, on Tuesday (July 29) in Cairo, Egypt.
This partnership took place during the visit of the Muhammadiyah North Sumatra and UMSU delegation to several institutions in Egypt.
Prof. Dr. Taha Rabah, Director of NRIAG, welcomed the collaboration and expressed his appreciation for the initiative. He emphasized that the partnership would advance research, academic publications, and scientific exchange between Egypt and Indonesia through NRIAG and UMSU. He also encouraged Muhammadiyah and UMSU to actively document and develop the progress of their joint research projects.
“This cooperation is highly significant as NRIAG does not only conduct research on the universe, but also on the earth’s phenomena such as earthquakes and oceans,” said Dr. Rudianto, highlighting UMSU’s commitment to strengthening astronomy-related studies and research.
Prof. Dr. Hasyimsyah Nasution, Chairman of Muhammadiyah North Sumatra, shared a similar hope:
“May this collaboration bring meaningful contributions to the advancement of science and be a source of blessing,” he said.
NRIAG, one of Egypt’s leading research institutions, focuses on astronomy and geophysics, studying phenomena such as solar eclipses, earthquakes, and solar storms. It also develops advanced technologies such as the Magnetic Data Acquisition System (Magdas) to monitor global climate change and mitigate natural disasters. NRIAG actively partners with research institutions worldwide to strengthen its research and technological development capacity.
Recognizing NRIAG’s strong reputation, UMSU entered into this collaboration to reinforce its own Observatory of Islamic Astronomy (OIF). With UMSU already offering a degree program in Astronomy (Ilmu Falak), this partnership is seen as a vital step toward enhancing its academic and research excellence in the field.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Muhammadiyah North Sumatra leaders, including Prof. Dr. Hasyimsyah Nasution, MA (Chairman), Prof. Dr. Kamal Basri Siregar (Vice Chairman), and Ustadz Irwan Syahputra, MA (Secretary). Also in attendance were UMSU faculty deans, the Head of OIF, Dr. Arwin Juli Rahmadi Butar-butar, MA, and staff from the Office of International Cooperation.
From NRIAG, the event was attended by Deputy Director Prof. Ahmad Geis, Prof. Dr. Asyraf Syakir (Head of Astronomy Department), and other senior officials.
As a symbol of friendship, Prof. Hasyimsyah and Dr. Rudianto presented a traditional Batak Ulos shawl to Prof. Dr. Taha Rabah, signifying the strengthening of bilateral ties between the two institutions.
The event concluded with a tour of NRIAG’s facilities, where the delegation observed several classical astronomical instruments that remain well preserved.
