Yogyakarta, July 7, 2025 — Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University (UIN Sunan Kalijaga) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, is reinforcing its academic internationalization strategy through a growing partnership with Germany’s Senior Experten Service (SES). A tangible outcome of this collaboration is the 2025 International Visiting Professor Program, which this year welcomes Prof. Dr. Jürgen Rüland, an esteemed scholar of International Relations and Southeast Asian Studies from the University of Freiburg.
In an official meeting held at the
Rector’s Office of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Prof. Rüland was formally received by
Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan. Also present were Vice Rector for Academic
Affairs and Institutional Development, Prof. Dr. Istiningsih, Vice Rector for
Student Affairs and Collaboration, Dr. Abdur Rozaki, Head of the International
Office, Dr. Witriani, and Vice Dean I of the Faculty of Islamic Economics and
Business, Dr. Sunaryati.
Prof. Rüland will lead a series of
academic workshops and consultations from July 5 to 31, 2025. The program is
designed to strengthen research capacity, boost international publication
performance, and expand global scholarly networks, particularly within the
Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business (FEBI) and the university at large.
According to Prof. Istiningsih, the
collaboration with SES is a strategic initiative to raise the academic quality
and global competitiveness of UIN Sunan Kalijaga. The SES experts, she noted,
are highly experienced in international academic circles and capable of
tailoring their contributions to the specific needs of each faculty. Activities
may range from national seminars and international conferences to more focused
scholarly discussions.
Prof. Rüland, who has published
extensively on topics such as political transformation, democratization, and
regional integration in Southeast Asia, is expected to provide high-level
academic mentoring. His presence is anticipated to help lecturers refine their
research methodologies, develop publishable manuscripts, and build sustainable
international research collaborations.
Dr. Witriani, Head of the
International Office, emphasized that the program aligns with the university’s
broader vision for academic globalization. With a background in geopolitical
studies, Prof. Rüland brings interdisciplinary insights that are highly
relevant to the university’s academic development. She also announced that
another SES expert will join the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities in
August 2025.
UIN Sunan Kalijaga has worked with
SES since 2017, hosting experts across multiple faculties. The following table
highlights SES engagements at UIN Sunan Kalijaga over the years:
Year |
Faculty |
SES Expert |
Area of Contribution |
2017 |
Social Sciences & Humanities |
Prof. Gottfried Zantke |
Visiting professor in urban sociology |
2019 |
Science & Technology |
Prof. Ewald Giovanni Daltrozzo |
Internationalization and development of Chemistry |
2025 |
Social Sciences & Humanities |
Prof. Dr. Phil. Sabine Brombach |
Academic writing and international publication |
In
2025 alone, UIN Sunan Kalijaga plans to host five SES experts across various
faculties, reflecting its strong commitment to academic excellence and global
engagement. The program's flexible format allows for both large-scale and
focused scholarly events aimed at building faculty capacity
in research and publication.
This initiative is a key component
of the university’s internationalization roadmap, underscoring its goal of
becoming a globally connected institution. By fostering long-term academic
partnerships and strengthening scholarly output, UIN Sunan Kalijaga is
positioning itself as a hub for impactful, research-based education in
Southeast Asia.