Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang

They were the monks and nuns from Indonesia, Spain, Philipine, France, India, US, Netherland, Lebanon, Italy, Turkey, and Austria. The group chairman Prof. DR. FX Eko Armada Riyanto, stated that this visitation was one event of symposium and dialogue at Pacet Mojokerto, that lasted for ten days.

Armada stated further that another reason of coming to UMM was about its plurality. "We see that UMM is open for those who are not moslems," said he. Sujono agreed for there were 20 percent of non-moslem students at UMM.
 

The participants were interested in understanding the UMM education management which was based on the Islamic rules. They actively responded to the explanation presented by Sujono. One of the monks from Istanbul stated that Muhammadiyah was an influential movement in some Islamic countries, such as in Turkey. Robert from Netherland informed that the relationship between the Catholic universities and communist universities was good enough, so he asked about the relationship between UMM and any other Catholic universities. Sujono replied that it is also a good relationship.

The Vice Rector I explained, through the Erasmus Mundus, UMM was connected with at least 20 universities in Europe. Last year, UMM sent its 31 students and lecturers there. And this year was predicted that there would be more students and lecturers joining it. This was because there were two programs for the scholarship. And so were the Europe students. " They do students exchange in terms of the culture and religion," said Sujono. The understanding between two countries was an important thing to build the solidarity and tolerance. (han/nas/t_ris)