Muhammadiyah Delegation Reviews Developments in Education and Health in China
Guangzhou (ANTARA) - The visit focusing on education and health to China, organised jointly by the Chinese Consulate General in Surabaya and Muhammadiyah Indonesia, was successfully held in Guangdong Province, southern China, from 13 to 19 April.
The delegation, consisting of 29 members including the Muhammadiyah Regional Leadership (PWM) of East Java, leaders of several Muhammadiyah universities, high school principals, and hospital directors, visited Guangzhou and Shenzhen for exchanges.
During the activities, the delegation visited Guangzhou University, the Women’s and Children’s Medical Centre affiliated with Guangzhou Medical University, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, and Mindray’s headquarters in Shenzhen. They directly experienced China’s cutting-edge technological achievements and innovative spirit in education and health, while building bridges of cooperation in related fields between Indonesia and China.
As a Muslim social organisation (ormas) in Indonesia, Muhammadiyah has more than 60 million members with broad influence reaching across Indonesia to the Islamic world. The rapid development of cities in China and the extensive application of technology left a deep impression on the delegation members.
The deep integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with the campus environment particularly impressed Tamhid Masyhudi, Deputy Chairman of PWM East Java. In the classroom at Guangzhou University, the AI teaching system accurately adjusts to students’ learning pace, provides real-time learning feedback, and assists lecturers in delivering personalised instruction. The vivid scene of intelligent learning prompted Tamhid to repeatedly take out his phone to record it.
“I never imagined that in China, artificial intelligence has permeated various aspects of campus life. Such convenience and efficiency are truly amazing,” said Tamhid.
The Muhammadiyah delegation also held in-depth discussions with Guangzhou University regarding a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation and reached preliminary consensus to deepen collaboration between the two sides.
Rector of Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya, Mundakir, stated that China’s innovative experiences in education are worth referencing. He hopes that both parties can strengthen cooperation, such as student exchanges and visits by supervising lecturers and teaching staff in the future, so that cutting-edge ideas and practical experiences from China can be brought to Indonesia to support national education development.
At the Zhujiang New Town campus emergency facility of the Women’s and Children’s Medical Centre affiliated with Guangzhou Medical University, the delegation learned in detail about the operational patterns of intelligent influenza agents, data classification agents, critical patient transfer scheduling systems, and clinical decision support systems (CDSS), allowing them to witness directly the efficient and intelligent hospital emergency service processes.
At the international medical centre within the complex, the delegation also inspected international medical service facilities and the diagnostic and treatment environment to understand the operation of standardised, internationally oriented hospital health service systems.
At the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, a demonstration of motion function rehabilitation robot technology integrated with brain-computer interface (BCI) opened new horizons for delegation members in medical rehabilitation.
Through brain-controlled robot-assisted training technology, paralysed patients can gradually restore basic motor functions, such as gripping hands and walking, thereby regaining confidence for independent living.
While observing patients undergoing rehabilitation training with the device, Rector of Muhammadiyah University of Sidoarjo, Hidayatulloh, repeatedly nodded in admiration.
“Indonesia currently does not have such advanced technology. I very much hope that through cooperation between the two parties, this technology can be brought to Indonesia to benefit local patients,” he said.
During the visit to Mindray’s headquarters in Shenzhen, a series of top-class medical devices developed independently attracted the delegation’s attention.
From high-precision monitors and portable ultrasonography diagnostic systems to comprehensive telemedicine solutions, all demonstrate the strength of China’s medical device manufacturing.
Director of PT Surya Medika Timur, Rudi Utomo, paused in front of a smart monitor and carefully inquired about the device’s performance parameters and its suitability for primary healthcare facilities.
He hopes to introduce advanced equipment in the future to improve clinical quality in Indonesian medical education institutions and help enhance national health service capacity. Reflecting on the trip to China, Tamhid admitted to being deeply impressed.
“Both the blend of culture and innovation in Guangzhou and the fusion of technology and speed in Shenzhen, we truly felt the rapid development of cities in China. China’s great achievements in urban construction and technological innovation are truly admirable,” he said.
From AI-supported classes and BCI technology in medicine to smart rehabilitation devices and top-class medical imaging products, China’s technological innovations left a profound impression on the Indonesian Muhammadiyah delegation.
This visit not only allowed the delegation to experience up close the pulse of China’s technological development and the vitality of its national construction but also built bridges of communication between Indonesia and China in education and health, planting seeds for practical cooperation between the two sides in the future, and promoting people-to-people relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.