MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, CIREBON – The Muhammadiyah Chairperson Dadang Kahmad addressed the challenges facing Muhammadiyah-Aisyiyah higher education institutions during the inauguration of Arif Nurudin as Rector of Universitas Muhammadiyah Cirebon (UMC) on December 31.
First, Dadang highlighted the pressing issue of declining new student enrollments, a concern faced by Muhammadiyah-Aisyiyah universities across Indonesia. He attributed the decrease in enrollments partly to Indonesia’s declining birth rate.
“According to statistics, the birth rate in Indonesia is at 2.1 percent, which is better than South Korea and Japan, but it still impacts the number of prospective students,” explained Dadang.
Second, Dadang pointed to changing social attitudes among parents.
“Parents now focus less on the symbolic value of education institutions and more on their practical benefits. If we don’t provide the best services, private universities like ours will not be their first choice,” said Dadang.
Third, economic challenges further aggravate the issue. Many families continue to face financial difficulties, a lingering effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has made it harder for them to afford private education.
Nevertheless, Dadang expressed optimism about the leadership of the new rector, urging Arif Nurudin to address these challenges and foster UMC’s growth. He called for leadership that is inclusive, collaborative, and innovative, and upholds integrity.
He also encouraged the entire UMC members to adopt these values and maintain strong, harmonious relationships with Muhammadiyah leadership at all levels, from provincial to sub branches.
