Daftar Sbmptn – Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta (UMS) reaffirmed its vital role as an educational institution that excels not only in academics but also actively engages in community service, particularly in the field of Islamic economics. Today, UMS hosted a major Islamic Financial Services Socialization event, a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening economic inclusion and literacy among the broader Muhammadiyah community.
The event, held at the UMS Edutorium, was attended by hundreds of participants, including members of the UMS academic community, representatives from various State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) and Regionally-Owned Enterprises (BUMD) partnering with UMS, and key figures from the Muhammadiyah organization. The presence of these diverse stakeholders demonstrated a collective commitment to advancing the Islamic economic sector, which is an integral part of the ideals of Baldatun Tayyibatun Wa Rabbun Ghafur (a good land under God’s mercy).
Addressing the Literacy and Access Gap
Strengthening Islamic financial inclusion is an urgent agenda. Data from the National Survey of Financial Literacy and Inclusion (SNLIK) conducted by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) shows that despite Indonesia having the largest Muslim population in the world, the level of Islamic financial literacy and inclusion still lags far behind that of conventional finance. This gap is what UMS and its partners are striving to bridge.
In his remarks, the Vice Rector V of UMS emphasized that this outreach activity is a concrete implementation of the Tridharma of Higher Education, particularly community service. “Our main goal is not only to produce competent graduates, but also to ensure that the knowledge gained, such as Islamic economics, can be directly enjoyed and applied by the wider community, especially Muhammadiyah members,” he said.
The focus of this outreach was to provide an in-depth understanding of various Islamic financial products and services, ranging from Islamic banking, Islamic insurance (takaful), Islamic capital markets, and Islamic microfinance institutions (BMT). The material was presented in a straightforward and practical manner, covering halal investment procedures, Islamic risk management, and the importance of financial protection based on Islamic principles.
The Strategic Role of Muhammadiyah Members in the Sharia Ecosystem
Muhammadiyah, as the second-largest Islamic organization in Indonesia, possesses extraordinary economic strength through thousands of charitable organizations in education, health, and social affairs. This strength serves as a solid foundation for building an independent sharia economic ecosystem.
The Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies (FAI) at UMS, Dr. Mohamad Ali, highlighted the importance of Muhammadiyah members’ awareness in channeling their funds and investments to sharia institutions. According to him, choosing sharia financial services is not only a religious matter, but also a drive to strengthen the economic integrity of the community, free from usury and uncertainty (gharar).
“If every Muhammadiyah member and charitable organization consistently uses and supports sharia financial institutions, we will not only strengthen the organization’s economy but also make a significant contribution to the growth of the national sharia economy. This is our modern economic jihad,” he emphasized.
This outreach specifically targets strategic segments within the organization, namely:
- Students and Youth: As the next generation who must be educated in Islamic financial literacy from an early age.
- Women: Considering the central role of mothers in family financial management and MSME ownership.
- Muhammadiyah MSMEs: To provide access to Sharia compliant capital without burdensome costs and to encourage business independence.
Sidig Permono Nugroho, Head of the Sub-Directorate for Industrial Partnership Development at UMS, added that the involvement of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) and Regionally-Owned Enterprises (BUMD) in this outreach is key. Partnerships between educational institutions, the organization, and real industry are crucial to creating channels for participants to directly utilize the Islamic financial products being promoted.
Future Hopes: Producing Independent Economic Actors
The ratification of this outreach program is not the end, but rather the beginning. The UMS campus hopes that the results of this outreach program will have a multiplier effect on society. With a better understanding of the benefits and mechanisms of Islamic financial services, it is hoped that a new wave of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will emerge within Muhammadiyah members, growing into independent and competitive economic entities.
Economic independence, inspired by the spirit of Muhammadiyah’s founder, K.H. Ahmad Dahlan, who emphasized the importance of not relying on the organization, is now translated into Islamic financial inclusion. Members are encouraged to actively support Muhammadiyah through their own economic strength.
With the literacy skills gained from UMS, participants are expected to become not only users of Islamic products but also agents of change who spread this understanding within their communities. This progressive step by UMS demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting the economic development of the community based on Islamic morals and ethics, making it a model for other Islamic educational institutions in Indonesia.