MUHAMMADIYAH.ID, YOGYAKARTA - Broadening networks, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD), Office of Primary and Secondary Education of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, and Office of Primary and Secondary Education of Muhammadiyah Regional Board of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jiangsu Vocational Institute of Architectural and Technology. The MoU signing was conducted at Gumaya Hotel, Semarang on Wednesday (19/6).

The MoU signing enables a number of Muhammadiyah Vocational Schools (SMK) in DIY to cooperate with Jiangsu Vocational Institute of Architectural and Technology.

On a release, Headmaster of SMP Muhammadiyah 1 Depok Sleman Abdulah Mukti informed that the MoU signing among the three parties was a follow-up of previous cooperation between UAD and universities of the People’s Republic of China.

“UAD has sent its lecturers to pursue their doctoral degree in universities of the People’s Republic of China, accepted Chinese students, and developed a master program for vocational studies,” stated Abdulah.

At the MoU signing, Jiangsu Vocational Institute of Architectural Technology and UAD were represented by Prof. Sun Jin, Rector of UAD Kasiyarno, respectively. Meanwhile, the Office of Primary and Secondary Education of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah was sit by the Vice Chair, and the Office of Primary and Secondary Education of Muhammadiyah Regional Board of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY) was represented by the Chair Arif Budi Rahardjo. 16 headmasters of SMK Muhammadiyah across DIY also attended at the MoU signing.

The MoU enables students of SMK Muhammadiyah in DIY to pursue their study at Jiangsu Vocational Institute of Architectural and Technology, headmasters of the SMK Muhamamdiyah to have an internship program or collaborate to foster education.

Kasiyarno expected that the networking could benefit not only the representatives of the SMK Muhammadiyah being present at the MoU signing but also other schools as elementary and high schools. He told that his party are doing efforts in order that Muhammadiyah schools can be recognized in international levels.

“UAD seeks to evolve Muhammadiyah schools in international levels, in not only the People’s Republic of China but also other developed countries,” declared Kasiyarno.