Islamic and Muhammadiyah Studies (AIK) differentiate between the Muhammadiyah campus (MHEIs) and other campuses. AIK also serves as measuring the success of MHEIs. That was a statement for UMSU Rector, Prof. Dr. Agussani, when he opened the curriculum workshop of AIK, Wednesday-Thursday (09-10/03). Agussani explained that UMSU would establish Ilmu Falak (Astronomy) in the Faculty of Islamic Studies (FAI) UMSU. By this establishment, it was expected to be an excellent program. UM Sumatera Utara has had modern observatories and facility development in Barus, Central Tapanuli. “We expected the permit of Ilmu Falak will be issued soon,” said Agussani.
By the theme “The Orientation of Academic Quality Improvement for AIK UMSU towards Outcomes and Independent Learning-Independent Campus (MBKM), Prof Dr Sutrisno MAg, a member of Muhammadiyah Council for Higher Education, Research, and Development (CHERD), attended the workshop. Fifty lecturers of UMSU from nine different faculties were also presenced. Prof. Sutrisno highlighted KH Ahmad Dahlan when establishing Muhamamdiyah, not only to increase the number of schools and higher education institutions but also to uphold Islamic values and realize fair and prosperous communities according to Allah’s approval. Muhammadiyah was established to disseminate the good deeds and prevent the bad (amar ma’ruf nahi munkar). He continued that UMSU becomes Muhammadiyah service based on Islamic values and Qur’an-Sunnah. “Therefore, we as leaders, lecturers, educators, and students of UMSU have to uphold Al-Qur’an and Sunnah guidance,” he said.
Related to the AIK standard for students, Prof Sutrisno mentioned that UMSU students on-campus or off-campus should make Al-Qur’an and Sunnah for guidance in their daily activities. For these circumstances, the AIK subject becomes essential. The Rector of UMSU expected this workshop could prepare UM Sumatera Utara graduates. In this workshop, the participants were divided into four commissions to discuss the latest AIK curriculum. The workshop results from the respective team will be discussed more on Thursday (10/03) and continued by the closing ceremony.
