Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Sunan Kalijaga has once again reaffirmed its commitment to empowering knowledge and promoting societal development. On February 4, 2025, the university's Rector, Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, received a prestigious award from the Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal (BPJPH) during a formal ceremony held at the Integrated Research and Testing Laboratory (Laboratorium Penelitian dan Pengujian Terpadu, LPPT) of Universitas Gadjah Mada. The award was presented by BPJPH Head Dr. Ir. Haikal Hasan, with Deputy Minister of Finance Prof. Anggito Abimanyu in attendance.
The ceremony marked the certification of 100 halal culinary products from Yogyakarta, including the iconic Gudeg and Bakpia. Remarkably, 70 of these certifications were the result of dedicated support and mentoring by UIN Sunan Kalijaga’s Halal Center. This achievement reflects the university's integral role in advancing the halal industry, a sector gaining strategic importance both nationally and globally.
Prof. Noorhaidi emphasized that this milestone goes beyond institutional recognition. “This is part of our collective mission to foster a resilient and sustainable halal ecosystem. UIN Sunan Kalijaga will continue to collaborate with key stakeholders, including the government, academia, and industry, to ensure the halal industry in Indonesia becomes more competitive globally and delivers widespread economic benefits,” he affirmed.
Dr. Imelda, Chair of the Halal Center at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, elaborated on the institution’s achievements in halal product assurance. Among its contributions by the end of 2024 were:
- Issuance of 155,000 halal certificates for micro-enterprise products across Indonesia through Halal Center-LP3H.
- Certification of 250 products for small, medium, and large enterprises through the university’s Primary Halal Inspection Body (Lembaga Pemeriksa Halal, LPH).
- Graduation of approximately 300 halal supervisors through its Halal Supervisor and Auditor Training Institute, officially registered with BPJPH since 2023.
- Initiating the establishment of the first Vocational Study Program in Halal Production Technology (Bachelor of Applied Science) within the State Islamic Higher Education (PTKIN) framework, currently awaiting visitation by the Directorate General of Islamic Education.
“The recognition by BPJPH reinforces our strategic contributions to halal certification, particularly for Yogyakarta’s signature culinary products like Gudeg and Bakpia. It highlights UIN Sunan Kalijaga’s role as a leading center for halal certification and industry mentorship,” Dr. Imelda noted. She emphasized that guided certification efforts help MSMEs streamline the process and expand access to competitive markets.
As halal standards become a critical factor in the global food and beverage landscape, initiatives such as those championed by UIN Sunan Kalijaga showcase the transformative role of academia. The synergy between universities, government, and industry is essential for creating a sustainable halal ecosystem.
This achievement underscores UIN Sunan Kalijaga’s vision as an empowering institution shaping the future through knowledge, collaboration, and societal impact—offering a model for higher education institutions across Indonesia to emulate.
(Humas UIN Sunan Kalijaga)