Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) has officially established a strategic partnership with the National Sports Committee of Indonesia (KONI) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta. The signing of the memorandum of understanding, which took place on Friday (July 3), marks a new chapter in the development of the sports ecosystem in the Yogyakarta region through collaboration in education, research, and athlete healthcare services.
Rector of UMY, Prof. Dr. Achmad Nurmandi, M.Sc., emphasized that UMY will optimize all campus resources to boost regional sports achievements. The tangible support provided includes supplying professional medical personnel, including sports medicine specialists, to mitigate injury risks for athletes competing in high-intensity sports such as football and martial arts.
Beyond medical aspects, UMY highlighted the urgency of research in national sports development. Prof. Nurmandi noted that the lack of solid data and research often hinders the effectiveness of sports policies. Therefore, UMY is committed to conducting comprehensive studies focusing not only on athletic performance, but also on mapping a more sustainable sports ecosystem.
Furthermore, this initiative opens doors for high-achieving athletes to pursue better higher education. Through sports scholarship schemes, UMY hopes to provide future security for athletes, enabling them to excel nationally without compromising their academic pursuits.
Appreciating the progressive steps of the DIY Regional Government in providing physical infrastructure, UMY expressed its readiness to complement these efforts with a science-based approach. This collaboration is expected to build a more professional, competitive sports ecosystem with high health standards in the Special Region of Yogyakarta.
