Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) took a strategic step in advancing local sports by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KONI DIY on Friday (3/7/2026). This partnership is designed to foster a sustainable collaboration that blends academic excellence with the technical needs of athlete development in the field.
Rector of UMY, Prof. Dr. Achmad Nurmandi, M.Sc., emphasized that the university's involvement will focus on providing healthcare services and scientific research. UMY is committed to offering sports medicine specialists and campus hospital facilities to minimize the risk of injury for athletes, particularly those in high-intensity contact sports such as soccer, futsal, and martial arts.
Beyond medical aspects, UMY highlighted the importance of a robust database in sports development. Prof. Nurmandi noted that systematic research and data collection have historically been a gap in Indonesia. Through this partnership, the university will assist KONI DIY in conducting in-depth research to support more effective, evidence-based sports policy formulation.
On the other hand, this collaboration also opens golden opportunities for athletes to pursue higher education. UMY has prepared a special scholarship scheme for high-achieving athletes, ensuring that sports careers and education can go hand in hand. This initiative is expected to boost the competitiveness of DIY athletes at both national and regional levels.
Appreciating the rapid development of sports facilities in Yogyakarta, Prof. Nurmandi hopes this synergy can act as a catalyst for a more professional sports ecosystem. With increasingly adequate support from local government facilities, this collaboration between an educational institution and sports authorities is expected to become a sustainable model for talent development in the future.
