The Graduate School of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (SPs UNY) conducted an institutional cooperation visit to the Graduate School of Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Mas Said (UIN RMS) Surakarta on Thursday, 22 January 2025. The visit aimed to strengthen inter-university synergy in the areas of institutional development, academic advancement, and human resource capacity building.

The SPs UNY delegation was warmly received by the Director of the UIN Raden Mas Said Graduate School, Prof. Dr. Islah Gusmian, M.Ag., alongside the institution's full leadership team, including the Deputy Director, Study Program Chairs and Secretaries, and relevant administrative staff.

The session opened with remarks from Prof. Islah Gusmian, who welcomed the SPs UNY delegation and expressed his confidence that the meeting would yield tangible benefits for both institutions, particularly in enhancing institutional quality, learning outcomes, and human resource development.

This was followed by an address from the Director of SPs UNY, Prof. Dr. Siswantoyo, M.Kes., AIFO., who outlined the purpose of the visit — to strengthen strategic collaborative networks between graduate schools. The session continued with the signing of a Cooperation Agreement (PKS), formalizing the collaborative framework between the two institutions.

During the discussion, both parties explored a range of institutional development matters, including opportunities for establishing new study programs, student recruitment strategies, and the strengthening of academic and non-academic cooperation. Prof. Siswantoyo emphasized that building and expanding networks is an essential priority for higher education institutions, both for institutional growth and for attracting prospective students, with technology and networking identified as the two key pillars of this development.

Both parties also addressed the importance of continuously strengthening human resource development at UIN Raden Mas Said. One of the pressing challenges identified was the academic promotion process, particularly for lecturers advancing from doctoral qualification to the rank of Professor, which is often hindered by requirements related to reputable journal publications, examination experience, and other academic credentials. Collaboration with UNY was seen as a promising avenue to support and accelerate this process.

The Director of the UIN Raden Mas Said Graduate School also raised the topic of UNY's institutional support for research. In response, the Director of SPs UNY explained that UNY provides robust support through a tiered research funding system — spanning from the rector level down to individual study programs — with allocations aligned to academic rank. UNY also extends meaningful support to Professors through annual book writing grants and dedicated funding for Community Service (PkM) activities.

This cooperation visit is expected to lay the groundwork for a sustained and meaningful collaboration between SPs UNY and the Graduate School of UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta, with a shared commitment to elevating the quality of the three pillars of higher education — teaching, research, and community service — and reinforcing institutional capacity at both universities.