UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta welcomed the Head of the Center for Religious Education Financing (Puspenma) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Dr. Ruchman Basori, for a Program Socialization event held at the General Administration Building, 2nd Floor, on Monday (15/6/2026). The event was led by Vice Rector for General Administration, Planning, and Finance Prof. Dr. Mochamad Sodik, and attended by university leadership, the Director of Postgraduate Studies, deans, vice deans, department heads, and functional officials.

In his presentation, Dr. Ruchman outlined several strategic instruments currently being developed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, including the Indonesia Bangkit Scholarship (BIB), the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP) for higher education, the Indonesia Pintar Program, and MORA The Advanced, all aimed at accelerating the quality improvement of Islamic higher education in Indonesia.

UIN Sunan Kalijaga was highlighted as one of the universities with a strong participation record in the BIB scholarship program across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels. Puspenma has also supported the expansion of international academic networks, with one notable model being the double degree master's program involving UIN Sunan Kalijaga, SOAS University of London, and the University of Edinburgh.

On the research front, the MORA The Advanced program prioritizes real societal impact as the primary measure of research success. Six lecturer groups from UIN Sunan Kalijaga have already secured research funding through this scheme. Funded research is directed toward national priority areas, including science and technology, health and pharmacy, social humanities, creative economy, and religious studies, and must produce not only reputable publications but also policy briefs to inform public decision-making.

Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Istiningsih shared that UIN Sunan Kalijaga is developing fast-track programs in collaboration with partner universities, as well as double degree and joint degree programs as part of the campus internationalization strategy. She also called for greater attention to inclusive education, expressing hope that future financing schemes would further support access for students with disabilities through the university's Disability Services Center (PLD).

Through this socialization, UIN Sunan Kalijaga reaffirmed its commitment to broadening educational access, strengthening human resource quality, expanding global academic networks, and developing research with meaningful societal impact. The financing support managed by Puspenma is expected to serve as a catalyst for accelerating the university's strategic programs, enabling UIN Sunan Kalijaga to deliver higher education that is excellent, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of society and the demands of the future. (humassk)