MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia has appointed and inaugurated several deputy ministers, special advisors, and heads of agencies on October 21 and 22 at the State Palace, Jakarta. Among those appointed are two former rectors of Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM): Prof. Muhadjir Effendy, who also serves as the Chairperson of Muhammadiyah, and Prof. Fauzan.
According to the decree read by President Prabowo, Muhadjir Effendy takes on the role of Special Advisor to the President for Hajj, while Fauzan has been appointed as the Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Science, and Technology.
Previously, Prof. Muhadjir served as the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture 2019-2024. His ministerial career began as the Minister of Education and Culture from 2016 to 2019, followed by acting as Minister of Social Affairs in 2020 and 2024, and serving as acting Minister of Youth and Sports in 2023.
Born in Madiun on July 29, 1956, Muhadjir Effendy is the sixth of nine siblings, born to Soeroja and Sri Soebita. His early education spanned from elementary school through a six-year teacher training program in his hometown. He then pursued higher education at IAIN Malang, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1978.
Following this, he completed his undergraduate degree at IKIP Negeri Malang (now Universitas Negeri Malang) in 1982. Muhadjir continued his education at the Graduate Program at Gadjah Mada University, earning a Master of Public Administration in 1996. In 2008, he obtained his doctorate in military sociology from Universitas Airlangga. In addition to his formal studies, Muhadjir participated in various courses abroad, including at the National Defence University in Washington, D.C., and at Victoria University in British Columbia, Canada.
During his time at UMM, he served as Deputy Rector III from 1984 to 1996 under the leadership of Prof. Malik Fadjar, MSc. In 1996, he became Deputy Rector I and held that position until he was elected as rector in 2000. He held the position of the rector UMM for three terms from 2000 to 2016 and currently serves as the university Board of Trustees.
In the current leadership structure of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah for 2022-2027, Muhadjir Effendy chairs the Economy, Business, and Halal Industry sector. In his previous term, he focused on Higher Education, Research, and Development.
Additionally, he is part of the Vision Team for a Progressive Indonesia of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah since 2014. He has also been a member of the Board of Trustees at the Muhammadiyah Ulama Education Institution (PUTM) from 2006 to 2011 and served as the Chairperson of the Research and Development division of Tapak Suci Putera Muhammadiyah during the same period.
Muhadjir also held various important roles within Muhammadiyah, including serving on the Muhammadiyah for Religious Opinion and Tajdid 2005-2010 and as the Deputy Chairperson of the Muhammadiyah Provincial Board of East Java 2000-2010. He was also the Chairperson of the Cader Development Body for Muhammadiyah Youth (BPK/P-AMM) 1997-2001 and the Deputy Chairperson of the Muhammadiyah Cader Development Body 1995-2000.
In addition, he chaired the Student Development Team for Muhammadiyah Universities under the Muhammadiyah Council for Education and Research 1986-1994 and was active in Tapak Suci Putera Muhammadiyah from 1975 to 1980.
Reference:
MPI PP Muhammadiyah. (2022). Ensiklopedi Muhammadiyah 2.0: Membangun Indonesia Berkemajuan. Gramasurya.