History and Philosophy

Architecture History

Architecture Study Program, Faculty of Engineering at Universitas of Muhammadiyah Surakarta was established on February 4, 1993 based on Decree number 91/DIKTI/Kep/1993. After a long journey, Islamic Architecture has become the main field of study in the Department of Architecture. Some of the main activities that specifically deal with Islamic Architecture have also been undertaken, among them the Seminar on Islamic and Tropical Architecture in 2002 and National Seminar on Islamic Architecture # 1 in 2004. These activities became the first step in the establishment of the Center of Architectural Studies which has been established based on the decree. UMS Rector No. 056/IV/2005 dated June 30, 2005. In 2016, the Architecture Study Program gets “A” accreditation from the National Accreditation Board (BAN) of PT Dikti by Decree no. 2043/SK/BAN-PT/Akred/S/IX/2016, dated September 29, 2016 (see Appendix).

The vision of Architecture Study Program at UMS is organized consistently, in sync with the Faculty and University’s vision and mission. Universitas of Muhammadiyah Surakarta has a vision that by 2029, it will become the center of Islamic science and technology development and education and provide direction for change. At the faculty level, in 2018 the Faculty of Engineering is expected to become a reference center for science and technology and provide direction for change based on Islamic values. The Vision of the Architecture Program is to become an Islamic Architecture Education Center in 2020.

The involved human resources, namely lecturers and other supporting staffs, are always developed in accordance with their areas of expertise, such as continuing to higher level education, attending training, seminars, workshops, upgrading of special courses, and so on. Various activities supporting the Tridharma of Higher Education process are carried out periodically to develop quality higher education institutions.

Educational Philosophy

In teaching and learning activities, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta is inspired by the prophetic education paradigm coined by Kuntowijoyo (2005). The philosophical paradigm was derived from a Quranic verse (3: 110) meaning: ‘You are the best community that ever emerged for humanity: you advocate what is moral, and forbid what is immoral, and believe in God. Had the People of the Scripture believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are the believers, but most of them are sinners’. Based on this verse has inspired the emergence of three pillars of prophetic education: humanization, liberation, and transcendence. Humanization is a creative translation of ‘advocating or upholding virtue”. Liberation is the creative meaning of innovation and giving freedom (liberating). Transcendence means “divinity or placing Allah SWT as the authority’’. With this in mind, education at the Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, including all of its components, places a spiritual dimension as its foundation and roots that the all action by UMS’ academic community should be devoted to Allah.

UMS follows three pillars of prophetic education: humanization, liberation, and transcendence. Humanization is a creative translation of ‘advocating or upholding virtue”. SP-Architecture translate this into, for example, understanding the local context within the global context and socio-cultural value inline with science and technology. Liberation is the creative meaning of innovation and giving freedom (liberating). In this context, SP-Architecture aims to facilitate students to master engineering related skills, particularly in architecture. Transcendence means “divinity or placing Allah SWT as the authority’’. With this in mind, education in UMS places a spiritual dimension as its foundation and roots that the all action should be devoted to Allah.

The elements of educational philosophy (humanization, liberation, and transcendence) laid the basis for educational development reflected by the vision and mission (at university and faculty level) and also program educational objectives (at study program level). The learning approach in the SP-Architecture then address the courses developed by the university, faculty, and study programs.