Bukhara, Uzbekistan, May 4, 2026 – Universitas Muhammadiyah Gresik (UMG) and Asia International University (AIU) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, as part of a strategic initiative to establish a Medical Faculty for General Medicine. The agreement was signed by the Rector of UMG, Prof. Dr. Khoirul Anwar, M.Pd, and the Rector of AIU, Prof. Dr. Sukhrob Dekhkanov, reaffirming both universities’ commitment to strengthening international collaboration in education, research, teaching, scientific publication, and community service.

The partnership has been developing for more than a year through seminar exchanges and teaching partnerships between the two institutions. Prof. Khalilov from the Faculty of Economics at AIU has regularly visited UMG as part of an international professor exchange program, helping to build academic communication and cross-cultural understanding that later became the foundation for the development of the new medical faculty.

One of the major focuses of this collaboration is the development of affordable yet high-quality medical laboratories by adopting AIU’s best practices. AIU has successfully optimized laboratory equipment through a cost-effective model, allowing partner universities such as UMG to learn from its experience. This approach is expected to accelerate the establishment of practical medical facilities that remain accessible to students without compromising the quality of research and teaching.

The MoU covers a broad range of collaborative activities, including lecturer and student exchanges, joint academic program and curriculum development, academic material sharing, joint supervision, seminars, workshops, academic conferences, collaborative research, and community engagement programs.

“We see this collaboration as an opportunity to learn from AIU’s experience in developing efficient laboratories, so that UMG can prepare complete medical facilities without placing excessive operational costs on students,” said Prof. Dr. Khoirul Anwar.

Adding a managerial perspective, Dr. Tumirin, Vice Rector for Finance, Infrastructure, and Human Resources at UMG, stated:

“This collaboration is not only about academics, but also about financial sustainability and infrastructure readiness. By learning from AIU’s cost-efficient laboratory model, we can ensure that UMG’s investment remains efficient, transparent, and quality-oriented. We want students to experience modern facilities without being burdened by high costs, while also ensuring professional management of human resources and infrastructure.”

Since the beginning, the exchange program has focused on strengthening academic capacity. Prof. Khalilov has actively participated as an international professor by delivering lectures, conducting workshops, and facilitating joint research with UMG lecturers. This approach has contributed to the development of know-how in laboratory management, medical curriculum development, and scientific publication.

Beyond the establishment of the Medical Faculty, the MoU also supports the advancement of teaching, research, publication, and community service programs. These initiatives include joint scientific conferences, interdisciplinary workshops, cross-faculty collaborative research, and community engagement activities involving students and academic staff.

According to the Head of AIU’s International Department, the collaboration creates opportunities for both institutions to optimize best practices in higher education.

“We are pleased to see UMG utilizing our laboratory experience that has been implemented this year. It demonstrates how practical experience can be effectively transferred between universities,” he stated.

Prof. Khalilov further added:

“The professor exchanges, seminars, and joint research conducted over the past year have shown positive impacts for both institutions. Students gain access to international knowledge, while lecturers expand their research and teaching capacities. With this official MoU, the collaboration will become more structured and sustainable.”

The MoU will remain valid for five years from the signing date and may be extended or revised through mutual agreement. Through this long-term framework, both universities aim to ensure consistent implementation of academic programs and laboratory development while preparing a globally competitive medical faculty.

The collaboration between UMG and AIU in Bukhara demonstrates how international partnerships can be utilized to improve educational quality, expand research networks, and maximize operational efficiency. Supported by accessible laboratory facilities, the future Medical Faculty is expected not only to benefit students but also to strengthen both universities’ positions as academic innovation hubs that remain open to international best practices.