Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang

       Today, Wednesday (9/1), UMM began carrying out the implementation of New Student Introductory Studies (Pesmaba). There were 5908 new students (maba) which had been selected from 9850 applicants who were eligible for Pesmaba which would take place until Saturday (9/4).

          Chairman of the committee, Faqih Ruhyanudin, explained that the event would be begun with new students’ presence on the helipad of UMM. The whole maba were obliged to follow the ceremony presided by the rector, Dr. Muhadjir Effendy, MAP which was ordered to lead sign pinning of UMM new students. There was no exception in the obligation although for foreign students who would start their study at UMM in this semester. "Just as local students, foreign students are also required to participate Pesmaba ceremony so that they have experience as a student in Indonesia," Vice Dean III of UMM Faculty of Health Sciences explained.

          As in the previous years, UMM were attended by foreign students who studies in regular program or special one. They are spread in various faculties, except in the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Department.

         Head of Foreign Cooperation Bureau (BKLN) of UMM, Soeparto, said this year there are foreign students from at least 15 countries. Most of them are joining regular class; those are nine students from Timor Leste. Meanwhile, other foreign students are from the United States, Australia, UK, South Korea, Laos, Madagascar, Pakistan, France, Poland, Russia, Thailand, Italy, Germany and Spain. The total number is 31 of foreign students. "They follow the course of Australian Consortium for In Country Indonesia (Acicis), Darmasiswa scholarship and Erasmus Mundus Cooperation Window (EMECW) scholarship," said Suparto.

         Faqih continued explaining that Pesmaba event are divided into three levels, namely university, faculty and department level. Pesmaba of university is followed by all students. Besides in the form of morning assembly, Pesmaba of universities 2010 was also in the form of general lecture delivered by the Head of Executive Agency (BPH) of UMM, Prof. HA Malik Fadjar, in the arena room of UMM Dome. The general lecture was then continued with the introduction of board of rectors from each faculty. "The whole halls at UMM are used for this event. Board of rectors would have road show from one hall to another introducing themselves more closely to the students," Faqih said. The closing ceremony of Pesmaba of university would be held at UMM Dome and the speech would be delivered by General Chairman of Muhammadiyah, Prof. Dr. Din Syamsudin.

         Meanwhile, Pesmaba of faculty was managed by student affair institutions of faculty level autonomously. It contained the introduction of faculty and department officials and university lecturers, orientation of campus culture, student organizations and activities, and also things related to Islam. "All is done with humane and intellect approach and it also avoids any form of pressure and violence," continued Faqih guarantying.

         To ensure that there is no violence in Pesmaba, Vice Rector III, Drs. Joko Widodo, MSI, had ordered Vice Dean III to monitor it without intervening the creativity of each faculty. "All the faculties are freed to have creations, but we continue asking Vice Dean III and lecturers to monitor so that everything goes well," said Joko. However, he was sure that the senior students would not commit violence because since the beginning UMM do not follow such tradition. (nas/t_alf)