From August 24th to 25th, 2023, a delegation from the Department of Student Affairs, Jabatan Timbalan Naib Canselor Hal Ehwal Pelajar, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, led by Prof. Dr. Shamsul bin Sahibuddin, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, embarked on a benchmarking visit to Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto (UMP) in Purwokerto, Indonesia.

This visit coincided with the Closing Ceremony of the Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN) Programme, which involved students from UMP and 30 students from UTM. KKN is an annual community service program organized by UMP, and this year, it took place in Kebumen, Jawa Tengah. The primary objective of KKN is to cultivate relationships, and students were tasked with devising solutions related to the communities they were assigned to. The students were grouped with UMP students and stationed in 10 villages in Kebumen.

These students had been in the Kebumen province from August 8th to August 24th, 2023, engaging in various activities, such as community beach cleanups, interactions with primary school students, cultural exchanges, and even congregational prayers together at dawn.

On August 25th, 2023, the UTM delegates visited the top management of Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto. Dr. Akhmad Darmawan, the Vice Rector for Students and Alumni, warmly received the delegation. During the visit, both universities highlighted the shared roots, language, and culture between Indonesia and Malaysia, underscoring the need for enhanced cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the development of well-rounded and holistic students.

The delegation expresses its sincere gratitude to Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto, particularly the International Affairs Office led by Dr. Chondro Nur Alim, for their gracious hospitality and meticulous arrangements during this benchmarking visit.