Malaysia 13 February 2023, establishing partnerships. Collaboration with universities in neighboring countries is one of the efforts to expand information about UniversitasMuhammadiyah Gresik in all corners of the world. With the collaboration between Muhammadiyah University of Gresik and UNISZA, it is easier to carry out international activities, one of which is an Inter-Nation Seminar with Lecturers of the Faculty of Islamic Religion at UNISZA, Gong Badak Campus. Together with the Chancellor of Muhammadiyah Gresik University, NadhirotulLaily, S. Psi, M. Psi, Psychologist, Deputy Chancellor III Suwarno SE, M. Si, Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Religion, Mohammad Ahyan Yusuf Sya’bani, S.Pd. I, M.Pd. I, along with the Heads of Study Programs held an international seminar entitled Seminar on the Preservation of Islamic Education and Civilization at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin Malaysia. The Heads of Study Programs from PIAUD and PAI also attended the seminar as speakers for international seminars.

Exactly 5 months ago in 2022, Sultan Zainal Abidin University (UniSZa) visited Muhammadiyah Gresik University to discuss the implementation of cooperation. When visiting UMG, the UnisZa delegation was greeted by Vice Chancellor III UMG, Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Religion, Ka. Partnership Bureau, Ka. Academic Administration Bureau, Ka. Bureau of Admission and Public Relations, Ka. Islamic Education Study Program, Ka. Early Childhood Islamic Education Study Program and Ka. Islamic Religious Education Lab, discussing the implementation of cooperation that has been and will be established in the future in the discussion scheduled seminar activities attended by presenters from lecturers of the Faculty of Islamic Religion, University of Muhammadiyah Gresik. In the end, right on February 13, the seminar with the national theme was successfully carried out.

The seminar invited the Head of PIAUD Study Program, FitriAyuFatmawati, S. Pd, M. Pd, as the main speaker. Located in the Auditorium Board of the UnisZA Library, Fitri delivered material about early childhood education with Islamic character in front of all invited guests from both UMG and UnisZA. Armed with knowledge in the world of early childhood education, the Assessor of BAN PAUD PNF Center for East Java Province said that character education is a major part of the purpose of education itself, namely how to form positive children’s characters or good manners.

“In the Islamic perspective of early childhood education, it includes the principle of prioritizing the cultivation of aqidah, guiding and demanding the actualization of worship, fostering noble character and training independence, the principle of balance between the world and the hereafter and the principle of balance between knowledge and charity,” he said

While the Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Religion conveyed about social media and its implications for higher education in Indonesia. Ahyan analyzes how the use of social media and its influence on higher education in Indonesia.

”Higher education is the main subject in the development of science. Therefore it must be able to become the main pillar to develop better education. Social media plays a role in strengthening the progress of this education,” said the Islamic Religious Education lecturer

Different material from what was delivered by the Dean of FAI, in the seminar Head of the FAI Lab Muyasaroh, S.Pd. I, M.Pd. I raised the theme of Children’s Education in Perspective Qs. Luqman (Tawhid Education for Children).

“The method of learning TAUHID for children begins with introducing the names and characteristics of Allah to children, explaining all the world and its contents are the creations of Allah SuhanahuWata’ala, and worshiping/worshiping only Allah SubhanahuWataalah (Learning prayer movements and reading prayers correctly) he explained

Before closing his presentation, Muyasaroh concluded that the first education that must be instilled in children is monotheism, so that children avoid shirk.

In addition to the lecturer above, Ode M ArfaLadamay also conveyed a bit of insight about Character Education in the Perspective of Pancasila, and what was interesting was the editorial presented by the Head of Islamic Studies Study Program Noor AmirudinS.Pd.I, M.Pd.I about the role of Islamic worldview in preventing religious beliefs. Radicalism Among the Millennial Generation.

This visit to Malaysia is not the first time for UMG, but the holding of a collaborative seminar between nations between Muhammadiyah University of Gresik and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin Malaysia earlier this year is a good sign that other joint activities will be carried out. The Chancellor of UMG hopes that this inter-nation seminar will further strengthen UMG as a university that is able to continue to establish positive synergy both at the national and international levels.