Rector of University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM), Dr. Muhadjir Effendy, MAP received the Excellent Campus Award/Anugerah Kampus Unggulan (AKU) 2010 from Kopertis region VII (East Java), Saturday (2/13). This was the third time for UMM receiving the award for best private universities in East Java. In 2008 and 2009 UMM also received the same award.
The award was handed by the Minister of National Education, Prof. Dr. M. Nuh, DEA, in the middle of private universities (PTS) leadership meeting of East Java in Kopertis VII. Accompanied by the Kopertis Coordinator, Prof. Dr. Sugijanto, MS, Apt, Rector received congratulations from the head of the PTS who presented as Rakerpim participants.
The position of UMM was ranked among the top five universities that accepted AKU. The other four underneath were Petra Christian University Surabaya, University of Surabaya, Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya, and Widyagama University of Malang.
As in the previous years, the assessment of AKU was based on three main criteria, namely research excellence and community service, governance and student affairs. In those three categories UMM received the highest score.
Vice Rector II, Drs. Mursidi, MM, expressed pride for this achievement. However, he claimed that the position would be a major challenge for UMM had to defend it in the future.
Mursidi revealed, as private university, in the midst of intense competition between PTS and PTN image, society still often think of PTS as a second-class university. In fact, based on public recognition through various surveys and accreditation controls, it was often that PTS had the advantages which were more than PTN. However, he was sure that the image would gradually disappear because people are becoming more intelligent. "PTS has to prove that it is truly superior," he continued.
This award added UMM achievement series in the last three years. As it was known, UMM signed rank 13th of best university based on Globe Asia magazine version (2008), 50 Promising Universities of Dikti version (2007) and last week UMM just also entered the ranks of World Class Universities of Webometrics version. (rno/nas/t_alf)
