UMM rector Fauzan said here on Sunday that currently UMM is opening a lot of scholarship programs for students from developing countries. This year there are around 300 foreign students studying at UMM and some of them studying through scholarship programs.
"As soon as possible, we will open the scholarship programs for African students, so the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) can join. We also offer scholarship through cooperation with UMM partners such as Erasmus Mundus and Darmasiswa," Fauzan said.
He further said the plan of providing scholarship for African students had been discussed with the Deputy Rector of the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda, when visiting UMM last weekend. The visit of the IUIU Deputy Rector was aimed at exploring UMM`s systems and methods in advancing the university.
Fauzan said at the meeting Ismail pointed out that IUIU lacked financial resources and lecturers. The only financial source obtained by IUIU is from the educational contribution from students.
Fauzan explained that UMM students only pay Rp4 million per semester.
"According to the deputy rector of IUIU, the tuition fee of Rp4 million per semester is inexpensive," he noted.
Fauzan said that the operational costs of UMM were also supported by the university`s business units. The revenues earned from these business units are used to support the operational costs. In addition, UMM`s business units are also used as applied laboratories for students.
Meanwhile, Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda said the UIUI only had about 9,000 students and most of them were poor. "So we have difficulty surviving," Gyagenda said.
He explained that the IUIU was the only Islamic university in Uganda. "The government pays very little attention to IUIU. Aid funds are also rarely available," Gyagenda said.
Uganda`s Human Development Index ranks 157 out of 182 countries.
The meeting between the UMM rector and the Deputy Chancellor of IUIU was the beginning of the cooperation between the two parties to develop the national education of each country.
Reporting by Endang Sukarelawati
Editing by Libertina, Bustanuddin
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
