strengthening Academic Integrity: Muhammadiyah’s Stance on Honorary Titles

In a move aimed at reinforcing the academic standing of Muhammadiyah and ‘Aisyiyah Higher Education Institutions (PTMA), Chairman Haedar Nashir has called for a complete cessation of awarding honorary professorships. This directive, though not formalized through a decree, is intended as a firm instruction to safeguard the reputation and bolster the credibility of these institutions.

Our message from PP Muhammadiyah, PTMA dose not join in the love of the Honorary Professor because the professor is attached to the profession and its institution, because it is a position.
Haedar Nashir, Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership

Focus on Professorial Excellence and Institutional Impact

Nashir made the announcement during the inauguration of Jebul Suroso as Professor of Nursing Management at Muhammadiyah University Purwokerto (UMP). He emphasized that the professorship is inherently linked to professional achievement and institutional affiliation. He highlighted the significant number of professors within the PTMA network, which currently stands at 431, and stressed the need for this academic strength to translate into tangible improvements in quality and strategic influence.

Advancing Medical Education Standards

The Muhammadiyah leader also noted the progress within the medical faculties of PTMA institutions.Currently, 20 PTMAs have established medical faculties, with 14 achieving superior accreditation. this is particularly significant as universities outside Java are permitted to operate medical faculties even without superior accreditation, indicating a commitment to exceeding baseline standards.

The goal, according to Nashir, is to elevate all 20 medical faculties to superior accreditation, ensuring that institutional excellence directly correlates with qualitative advancements in higher education and a greater role in national progress and civilization-building.

Global Rankings: A Call for Enhanced competitiveness

Nashir underscored the imperative for PTMA institutions to enhance their quality and societal contributions. He pointed out that many Indonesian State Universities (PTN), including PTMA, are struggling to break into the top 200 of global university rankings. He cited the University of Indonesia’s ranking at 206, with other Indonesian universities lagging behind, some even falling below the 1,000 mark. PTMA institutions, he noted, are currently ranked around 1,200.

This situation contrasts with the rising prominence of universities from the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, which have successfully entered the top 200. Similarly,Brazil and Mexico have also achieved representation in these rankings.

This comparison serves as a wake-up call,highlighting the need for Indonesian universities to intensify their efforts to meet global standards. So that we have to work hard just to enter the standard world univerisity rankingsit means that even in our country we feel big, but in the context of the world we are left behind, Nashir stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.