lkui.umsida.ac.id – Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo (UMSIDA) has further solidified its commitment to internationalization within the Southeast Asian higher education landscape. This milestone was achieved through the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sorsogon State University (SorSU), a prominent state university in the Philippines. The virtual ceremony, which marks the beginning of a robust bilateral academic collaboration, was held via an online conferencing platform on Wednesday, (29/07), bringing together top university officials, administrative leaders, and college deans from both prestigious institutions.
While UMSIDA Rector Dr. H. Hidayatulloh were unable to attend due to prior official commitments, full authority was delegated to Vice Rector II for General Administration and Finance, Dr. Heri Widodo. His presence as UMSIDA’s highest-ranking representative underscored the university’s absolute commitment to fostering cross-border academic excellence, joint research initiatives, and international community service. Facilitated seamlessly by an internal Master of Ceremony (MC), the entire virtual proceeding maintained a highly dignified and optimistic atmosphere.
The ceremonial program commenced with a solemn moment of silent prayer, followed by the playing of the national anthems of both nations, Lupang Hinang of the Philippines and Indonesia Raya of Indonesia. This symbolic opening set a collaborative tone for the event, which progressed to the opening remarks delivered by SorSU’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Jhonner D. Ricafort, who expressed deep enthusiasm for the newly formed alliance. To showcase UMSIDA’s global readiness, the university presented a visual documentary titled “Pathway to Globalization of UMSIDA,” narrated by Niko Fediyanto, Director of the Directorate of Language, Cooperation, and International Affairs. SorSU reciprocated by sharing their own audio-visual presentation, “Internationalization Journey of SorSU,” which was followed by an official response from SorSU President Dr. Geraldine F. De Jesus and closing expressions of gratitude from Dr. Ana Cristina G. Fortes, Vice President for Research, Extension, and Training.
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The defining moment of the ceremony arrived with the simultaneous digital signing of the MOU document, broadcasted live via screen-sharing technology. The historic document was signed concurrently by Dr. Heri Widodo on behalf of UMSIDA and Dr. Geraldine F. De Jesus representing SorSU. As the digital signatures were finalized, delegates from both countries unmuted their microphones to share a collective round of applause, celebrating a major milestone that legally binds both institutions to future collaborations in faculty and student exchanges, joint international research projects, publication partnerships, and curriculum alignment.
Following the successful conclusion of the ceremony, UMSIDA’s International Relations Team expressed immense gratitude and pride regarding the event’s smooth execution. They emphasized that the physical distance and digital medium would in no way dilute the impact or the quality of the upcoming joint programs. Reflecting on the significance of the milestone, a representative from the team stated, “We are very happy to be able to start this collaborative partnership today, and despite the signing being conducted online, we are eager to begin executing the actual programs and cannot wait to meet our counterparts from SorSU in person in the near future.”
The institutional importance of this cross-border agreement was evident through the strong attendance of administrative and academic leaders from both sides. Representing UMSIDA alongside Dr. Heri Widodo were Vice Rector III Dr. Nurdyansyah, and the Deans of various faculties including Ir. Iswanto (Science and Technology), Evi Rinata (Health Sciences and Psychology), and Dr. Septi Budi Sartika (Education and Islamic Studies). Additionally, the heads of seven core academic programs, spanning Electrical, Mechanical, Informatics, and Civil Engineering, alongside Midwifery were also in attendance.
On the other side of the screen, the SorSU delegation stood equally strong to support Dr. Geraldine F. De Jesus. The attendees included Campus Director Dr. Telesforo Escoto, International Relations Office Director Dr. Ma. Elena C. Demdam, and the respective academic deans for the Colleges of Teacher Education, Business and Management, Technology, Health and Science, and Engineering and Architecture. This historic international gathering concluded with a virtual group photograph via screenshot. The mutual exchange of warm cultural greetings, with “Mabuhay” from the Philippine delegation and “Salam Sejahtera” from Indonesia, gracefully brought the session to a close, marking a bright beginning for this transnational alliance.
