Muhammadiyah University of Purworejo (UMPWR) – through its Student Boarding School (PESMA) – is once again organizing the New Student Orientation Program (MATASA) for incoming students in 2025. The event will take place over two days, Friday–Saturday, October 10–11, 2025, at Heroes Park Purworejo, with the theme “Becoming Islamic, Scientific, and Social Boarding School Students.”
A total of 102 new students participated in this activity. They are new UMPWR students who are also students at three PESMA, namely the Chudori Student Islamic Boarding School (Female/Baledono), the Rahajoe Student Islamic Boarding School (Female/Ngrapah), and the H.M. Roestam Student Islamic Boarding School (Male/Loano).
The MATASA activity is a regular annual agenda as a means of introducing student pesantren life, character building, and instilling Islamic and Muhammadiyah values from an early age. During the two-day event, the santri participated in various activities such as spiritual guidance, Islamic studies, leadership training, educational games, and social activities.
PESMA UMPWR Coordinator Ari Fajar Isbakhi, M.Pd.I, said that through this activity, it is hoped that the students will not only excel in academics, but also have a strong Islamic personality, broad scientific knowledge, and high social awareness. MATASA also provides an opportunity for students at the student Islamic boarding school to get to know each other and strengthen their bonds.
UMPWR Rector Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teguh Wibowo, M.Pd., in his speech said that being a student at PESMA is something to be grateful for. "Being part of the students at PESMA UMPWR is something to be grateful for, because students can gain religious and worldly knowledge, attend lectures and live in a boarding school, so they can get both. This is very rare," he explained.
Furthermore, the Rector also emphasized that friends on campus, especially in student activity units (UKM), can be a source of da'wah for the santri. “Invite your friends on campus and in UKM to pray at the campus mosque on time. That will be your source of da'wah,” he said.
The Rector also urged the students to remain actively engaged with the local community around the boarding school. The MATASA event also serves as an opportunity to strengthen brotherhood among the students and foster a spirit of unity within the UMPWR Student Boarding School community. (Akb/KP).
