Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and PT Bank Maybank Indonesia Tbk formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday (Dec. 1) in the Meeting Room of the UGM Central Office to strengthen collaboration in education, research, and community service.
The partnership also reflects a shared commitment to advancing Islamic financial services. Through this collaboration, UGM and Maybank aim to deliver tangible benefits to the broader community.
In his remarks, Director of Maybank Shariah Banking, Romy Buchari, emphasized Maybank’s position as the largest Islamic financial institution in ASEAN. He noted that the bank, formerly known as Bank Internasional Indonesia, now manages assets of approximately 200 trillion rupiah.
Buchari added that Maybank Islamic, as the world’s fifth-largest Islamic bank, offers a significant competitive advantage. According to him, Maybank’s strength lies in its ability to deliver sharia-compliant financial solutions accessible to all segments of society.
He expressed hope for more intensive collaboration with UGM through the newly signed MoU. He believes that partnerships with academic institutions can open new opportunities for Islamic financial literacy and research aligned with industry needs.
“We hope to work more closely with UGM in the future, whether in education, research, or the development of an Islamic financial ecosystem,” he said.
Other Maybank delegates in attendance included Dewi Irawati, Regional Director for Central Java, and Budi Haristiono, Area Branch Manager for Yogyakarta, as well as other senior leaders.
UGM Vice-Rector for Research, Business Development, and Partnerships, Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, reiterated that UGM has a long-term commitment to implementing sharia compliance across financial governance and academic and research development.
Dr. Hadmoko highlighted several university assets supporting this commitment, including the Halal Center, the Master’s Program in Islamic Economics, and active researchers developing innovations in Islamic finance.
“Technological research previously conducted by UGM scientists includes the use of artificial intelligence to detect non-halal materials connected to blockchain and supply chain systems, supporting the advancement of the halal industry,” he explained.
Dr. Hadmoko stated that UGM has high expectations for this collaboration’s potential. He hopes the MoU will lead to Islamic financial education initiatives, investment programs, and activities that enhance financial literacy among the academic community.
“We hope this collaboration will not only focus on financial management but also open opportunities for sharia-based financial education and investment initiatives for students and faculty,” he said.
The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding marks a strategic partnership between PT Bank Maybank Indonesia Tbk and UGM. The scope of collaboration includes institutional and personal banking services, scholarship programs, special incentive programs, and the dissemination of financial service information to the academic community.
The partnership will be followed up through coordination with the UGM Directorate of Finance as the initial operational step. Through this MoU, UGM reaffirms its commitment to strengthening its partnership network with leading financial institutions in ASEAN to support the development of a financial ecosystem responsive to future needs.
Author: Ika Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographer: Donnie Trisfian