Universitas Muhammadiyah Palangka Raya (UMPR) and Universitas Muhammadiyah Kalimantan Timur (UMKT) agreed to collaborare in Monday (07/02). The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed directly by the Rectors, Dr Sonedi, MPd, the Rector of UMPR and Prof Dr Bambang Setiaji MSi, the Rector of UMKT. They set a meeting of UMPR Rector to UMKT on Sunday-Tuesday (06-08/02). The procession also coincided with Innovation Consortium for Nation that all Rectors of MHEIs in Indonesia also attended.

The Rector of UMKT, Prof Bambang Setiaji MSi explained that UMKT responds favourably to the collaboration. “The collaboration is a concrete measure for UMKT to strengthen both institutions. Especially in preparing to establish the new Indonesian capital city in Kalimantan,” said Prof Bambang.

On this occasion, the Rector of UMPR, Dr Sonedi MPd, also appreciated the MoU agreement between UMPR and UMKT. “Currently, every higher education institutions require to collaborate with other institutions, especially the institutions in Kalimantan. Kalimantan recently became a public interest due to the relocation plan of Indonesia’s capital city to Kalimantan,” said Dr Sonedi.

Moreover, Dr Sonedi also expected that the MoU would open various collaborative works between two institutions. “The MoU becomes a part of legal provisions with the extensive coverage. So, the Deans in respective institutions can follow-up the MoU by establishing further agreements,” he said. The cooperation sphere that Dr Sonedi expected is extensive comprises partnership in education, research, community service, and Islamic and Muhammadiyah studies between two institutions.