The Transformation of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumut since 1957

Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumut – The duty to educate the nation, as mandated by the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia 1945, is a shared responsibility between the government and the community. The more the community participates in the development of human resources, the closer Indonesia comes to achieving its national goals under the protection and blessings of Allah SWT.

Muhammadiyah, an organization dedicated to Tajdid (purification, renewal, reform, and modernization), was established on 8 Dzulhijjah 1330 Hijriyah, corresponding to November 18, 1912. It was founded to uphold and promote Islam and to create a truly Islamic society through various efforts, including education, which is a hallmark of the organization. Muhammadiyah has established and managed educational institutions as part of the national education system, ranging from preschool to higher education institutions, one of which is Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU).

Table of Contents

Foundation and Early Development of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumut

Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) is an effort under the Muhammadiyah organization, based on Islam and guided by the Qur’an and Sunnah. UMSU was founded in Medan on February 27, 1957, in the province of North Sumatra. The university was established through the initiative of several Muhammadiyah scholars, including H. M. Bustami Ibrahim, D. Diyar Karim, Rustam Thayib, M. Nur Haitami, Kadiruddin Pasaribu, Dr. Darwis Datuk Batu Besar, H. Syaiful U.A, Abdul Mu’thi, and Baharuddin Latif.

UMSU initially started with the Faculty of Philosophy and Islamic Law Muhammadiyah (FAFHIM), which later became Perguruan Tinggi Muhammadiyah (PTM) Sumatera Utara in 1968. It offered three faculties: the Faculty of Education (FIP), the Faculty of Islamic Religion with a major in Da’wah (FIAD), and the Faculty of Sharia.

UMSU was officially established with a founding charter by PP Muhammadiyah Majlis Pendidikan dan Pengajaran No. 2661/0/07/1974 on May 28, 1974.

Growth and Expansion

Initially, the Faculty of Education (FIP) at UMSU was supported by the Faculty of Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta (UMJ) and became independent in 1974. Meanwhile, FIAD, which branched off to Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Barat, became independent and was renamed the Faculty of Ushuluddin. The establishment of other faculties was supported by Kopertis Region I on behalf of the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia and Kopertais Region IX on behalf of the Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.

Over time, UMSU expanded from its initial three faculties—Faculty of Education, Faculty of Islamic Religion with a major in Da’wah, and Faculty of Sharia—to eight faculties: Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Economics and Business, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, and Faculty of Medicine, established in 2008. The postgraduate program now includes eight study programs: Master of Management, Master of Accounting, Master of Law, Master of Notary, Master of Communication, Master of Electrical Engineering, Master of Mathematics, and Master of Education Management. UMSU is also awaiting approval for a Doctoral Program in Law.

UMSU oversees several Muhammadiyah colleges, such as Universitas Muhammadiyah Tapanuli Selatan (UMTS) in Padangsidimpuan, STIE Muhammadiyah Asahan in Kisaran, and STI Tarbiyah in Sibolga.

Campus Development

The first UMSU campus was located on Jalan Gedung Arca, currently used by the Faculty of Medicine. Due to the growing student population, a new campus was built on Jalan Mukhtar Basri, now the main building.

The main campus is 6100 meters or a 13-minute drive from the old campus. Under the leadership of Dr. Agussani, M.AP, UMSU constructed a seven-story postgraduate building on Jalan Denai to accommodate the increasing interest in pursuing master’s degrees.

Leadership and Vision

UMSU’s early leadership began with Bustami Ibrahim, followed by Latief Rousydiy, and saw significant changes under Dalmy Iskandar. Subsequent rectors included Chairuman Pasaribu, Bahdin Nur Tanjung, Dalail Ahmad, and currently, Dr. Agussani, M.AP.

Under Dr. Agussani’s leadership, UMSU underwent significant transformation, including improving administrative and academic services. The UMSU Information System, developed with Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, allows parents to play an active role in their children’s education. To meet growing needs, a seven-story postgraduate building was constructed on Jalan Denai.

The Transformation of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumut since 1957

In line with the Central Leadership of Muhammadiyah’s direction, the Falak Science Observatory (OIF) was established to serve as a reference for prayer times and other time-related activities. Equipped with advanced tools, OIF UMSU has successfully attracted public interest in astronomical phenomena.

Dr. Agussani also initiated the development of an integrated campus, aligning with UMSU’s vision of becoming an international-class university by 2033. An International Affairs Office was established to build networks with partner universities abroad.

Achievements

In 2019, UMSU achieved an “A” accreditation rating from the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education. UMSU is the only private university in Sumatra to receive this rating and the second in Indonesia outside Java.

UMSU’s vision is to become a superior university in building the nation’s civilization by developing science, technology, and human resources based on Islam and Muhammadiyah principles.

Mission

To realize this vision, UMSU has the following mission:

Conduct education and teaching based on Islam and Muhammadiyah principles.
Conduct research and develop science and technology based on Islam and Muhammadiyah principles.
Serve the community through empowerment and development based on Islam and Muhammadiyah principles.