UNU Jogja Welcomes UMNU Kebumen Benchmarking Visit, Strengthens Collaboration on NU University Governance

Yogyakarta, Indonesia— Nahdlatul Ulama University Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) welcomed a benchmarking visit from the Board of Organizers (Badan Pelaksana Penyelenggara / BPP) of Ma’arif Nahdlatul Ulama University (UMNU) Kebumen on Wednesday, October 15. The meeting served as a platform for sharing best practices, particularly in the context of university governance and institutional development. The delegation was received by representatives of UNU Jogja’s BPP, Rectorate, and Faculty Deans.

Chairman of UNU Jogja’s BPP, Muh. Najib Azca, Ph.D., emphasized the importance of the visit as an opportunity for exchanging ideas, experiences, and institutional practices, while introducing the diverse backgrounds of UNU Jogja’s board members who collectively shape the university’s development direction.

“UNU Jogja collaborates with various stakeholders—from jam’iyah (religious organizations) and government institutions to industries and private sectors—to realize its vision. We hope this will be a blessed effort toward developing a NU university model that not only focuses on religious studies but also integrates STEM fields as keys to national progress,” he stated.

Vice Rector for Pesantren Affairs and Social Transformation, Dr. Abdul Ghoffar, MBA, also elaborated on UNU Jogja’s collaborative renewal initiatives and future strategic directions.

“As a latecomer, UNU Jogja has adopted various acceleration strategies through strategic partnerships and programs, including collaboration with China-based company GEM in Indonesia and the MBZ College for Future Studies (MBZ CFS). We aim for NU universities to excel not only in religious knowledge but also in future-oriented sciences such as STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” he explained.

Representing the UMNU Kebumen delegation, Dr. Fauzi Al Muhtad, M.Ag., Chair of BPP UMNU Kebumen, affirmed that the benchmarking visit aimed to enrich policy references and accelerate institutional strengthening at UMNU Kebumen.

“UNU Jogja’s experience has been truly inspiring and motivating for us in developing UMNU. We hope that through this visit, we can adapt its network, collaboration roadmap, and governance benchmarks to our local context for more directed quality enhancement,” Fauzi said.

The meeting concluded with discussions on governance, strategic cooperation, human resource development, and strengthening research and innovation ecosystems, followed by a campus tour and exchange of souvenirs. [Intan]