Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) is the only university from Indonesia invited to attend the prestigious MQA Presidents’ Forum 2025, organized by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) in collaboration with the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) at Le Méridien Putrajaya, Malaysia. The forum was attended by university leaders and quality assurance agencies from 18 countries, including Scotland, Germany, South Africa, the Philippines, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Russia, and several Middle Eastern countries.
The event was officially opened by YB Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, Minister of Higher Education Malaysia, with the theme “Sharing Insights and Future Initiatives.” It served as an important platform for global stakeholders to share ideas on the future of higher education quality assurance. Topics discussed included collaborative initiatives related to cross-border mobility, academic recognition in the digital era, strengthening cooperation between accreditation bodies, and building trust ecosystems in international higher education.
During the forum, MQA signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA) from Germany and the National Agency for Academic Assessment and Accreditation (ANAAA.I.P.) from Timor-Leste, marking concrete steps toward strengthening cooperation among global quality assurance institutions.
The UMSU delegation comprised Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rudianto, S.Sos., M.Si., Vice Rector III for Student Affairs, Alumni, and Cooperation; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zailani, MA., Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Religion; and Mr. Agus Sani, ME., M.Sc., Head of the Management Study Program at the Faculty of Economics and Business. Their presence demonstrated recognition of UMSU’s international reputation in quality development and cross-border higher education
collaboration.
Rudianto explained that UMSU’s participation was a key moment to strengthen international networks and broaden recognition of Indonesian higher education quality. He noted the forum brought together university and accreditation leaders from various countries to discuss and build partnerships in student mobility, cross-border academic recognition, and quality assurance collaboration. He emphasized UMSU’s commitment to active involvement in international cooperation networks to enhance Indonesia’s global competitiveness in higher education.
Since 2021, UMSU has been institutionally recognized by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) as a university with quality education within the ASEAN region. This achievement was further strengthened in 2025 when four UMSU study programs—Management, Accounting, Sharia Business Management, and Sharia Banking—earned FIBAA international accreditation from Germany.
UMSU Rector, Prof. Dr. Agussani, M.AP., expressed appreciation for the invitation and international trust extended to UMSU. He affirmed that UMSU’s participation was not only recognition but also part of efforts to expand global collaboration in raising higher education quality. “UMSU’s presence as the sole Indonesian university at the MQA Presidents’ Forum is both an honor and a great responsibility. It shows that UMSU is internationally recognized and remains committed to building academic networks and strengthening globally standardized quality assurance systems,” said Prof. Agussani.
He further added that UMSU will continue to expand strategic collaborations with universities and accreditation bodies worldwide, such as MQA and FIBAA, to ensure that UMSU’s educational quality is internationally acknowledged. “This effort aligns with UMSU’s vision to become a World Class Islamic University by 2033, excelling not only in academic quality but also making a tangible impact on the global community,” he added.
The forum, attended by key figures in higher education worldwide, also featured the presence of Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohammad Shatar Sabran, CEO of MQA; Dr. Nina Rotermund from FIBAA Germany; Mr. Michael Koetsier and Ms. Gillian Hepburn from the Scottish Qualifications Authority; Dr. Xisto Martins from ANAAA.I.P. Timor-Leste; as well as representatives from SEAMEO RIHED, ASEAN University Network (AUN), and various quality assurance agencies globally. (hms)
