PEKANBARU - The Tembilahan-based Indra Education College Foundation, which is in charge of Husada Gemilang Midwifery Academy and Indragiri Islamic University for undergraduate and graduate education, has started working together to provide banking services that are reinforced by a cooperation agreement with Bank Riau Kepri (BRK) Syariah.

The signing of the cooperation agreement was carried out by the Chairman of the Indra Education College Foundation, Dr Muannif Ridwan with the Director of Funds and Services at Bank Riau Kepri Syariah, MA Suharto in the Sharia Digital Center room at the Dang Merdu Tower of Bank Riau Kepri Syariah on Tuesday (22/10/2024).

This activity was also witnessed by the Head of the Funds and Digital Banking Division, Imran, representatives of the Tembilahan Branch and foundation administrators. Dr. Muannif Ridwan, chairman of the Indra Education College Foundation, said that Bank Riau Kepri Syariah has so far greatly aided the foundation in advancing education in Inhil Regency.

In September 2024, the foundation moved its money from its old bank to the Bank Riau Kepri Syariah Tembilahan Branch and Indragiri Islamic University. Meanwhile, part of the foundation's assets are still being moved.

“We are now working with the vendor Sevima Pay to set up a method for paying student tuition fees via Bank Riau Kepri Syariah,” said Munif.

"Because the Indra Education Foundation is now working to merge the Husada Gemilang Midwifery Academy with the Indragiri Islamic University, the finances for the academy are still in a different bank. The Husada Gemilang Midwifery Academy is anticipated to join the Indragiri Islamic University's health faculty in 2025," he said.

Still, Muannif said, accompanied by the Deputy of the Muchlis Foundation and the Treasurer of the Sri Hidayanti Foundation, after the merger was completed, all of Husada Gemilang Midwifery Academy’s funds would be transferred to Bank Riau Kepri Syariah with quite large potential.

Indragiri Islamic University has 121 teachers and 3,149 regular and independent students, whereas Husada Gemilang Midwifery Academy has 200 students and 25 instructors.

“We also convey that we have a program that does not only exist in Tembilahan. In the current era of freedom, we are determined to develop campuses outside Tembilahan Regency, such as in Pekanbaru City,” he said.

“With this cooperation agreement, we hope that this campus development program can be realized and bring blessings to us all,” he added.

During the same event, MA Suharto, Director of Funds and Services at Bank Riau Kepri Syariah, gave a brief overview of the area where the cooperation agreement was signed. This area is one of the first sharia digital business and financial innovation centers in regional banks across Indonesia to enhance the human resources of Riau and the Riau Islands, which are talented and passionate about digital sharia-based start-up businesses.

“We also applaud the partnership that was established today with Indragiri Islamic University. Additionally, we have collaborated with many institutions in Batam as well as Riau University, Riau Muhammadiyah University, Riau Islamic University, Sultan Syarif Kasim State Islamic University, and the Pekanbaru region,” he said.

One of the aims of this collaboration, Suharto continued, is to facilitate administrative payments for students and foundation employees. Apart from collecting funds, Bank Riau Kepri Syariah also provides fund distribution with various services such as mobile banking, Cash Management System and others.

“Through the use of this service, a mechanism for paying employee wages will be established. In addition, Bank Riau Kepri Syariah is prepared to finance foundations to further their educational initiatives. As a regional bank that really cares about education, this has become our commitment,” he concluded.

Author: Sri Wahyuni
Editor: Barkah