Relations between nations are not always built through meetings between diplomats or negotiations at the table. In the era of global education, diplomacy can also emerge from learning spaces that bring together language, knowledge, and culture. This is precisely what UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta is now preparing, together with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), the international development cooperation agency of the Government of the Republic of Turkey.

Rather than simply building a corner of a library, the two institutions are designing a space intended to become a meeting point for academic collaboration, research, and cultural exchange between Indonesia and Turkey.

This commitment came to the fore when a TİKA delegation visited UIN Sunan Kalijaga on Tuesday (7/21/2026) to review progress on the construction of the Turkish Corner at the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Library, as well as the Turkish Language classroom at the Language Development Center building. Both facilities are being prepared as centers for language learning, literacy, and the introduction of Turkish culture for the campus community.

Prof. Dr. Abdur Rozaki, M.Si., Vice Rector III of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, welcomed the TİKA delegation's visit, which marks the continuation of strategic cooperation between UIN Sunan Kalijaga and the Turkish Government. The visit was facilitated by the Center for Development of Cooperation and International Affairs (CDCIA)/International Office. Head of the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Library, Dr. Tafrikhuddin, was also present to welcome the delegation, in support of developing the Turkish Corner as part of strengthening international literacy services within the library.

The visit follows up on cooperation previously agreed upon between UIN Sunan Kalijaga and TİKA in support of strengthening the university's internationalization through the development of academic and cultural facilities. The Turkish Corner will eventually serve as a center for information, learning, and cultural interaction, supporting academic activities, research, and cultural exchange between Indonesia and Turkey.

In his remarks, Prof. Rozaki framed the development of the Turkish Corner as a strategic step in expanding UIN Sunan Kalijaga's academic diplomacy and international network.

“We would like to thank TİKA for its support of UIN Sunan Kalijaga. The presence of the Turkish Corner is more than simply the construction of a physical facility; it is a symbol of the close friendship between Indonesia and Turkey. We hope this facility becomes a space for collaboration that brings together students, lecturers, and the wider community around language learning, cultural exchange, academic discussion, and strengthened research cooperation,” he said.

Prof. Abdur Rozaki noted that the presence of the Turkish Corner will further strengthen UIN Sunan Kalijaga's position as a university actively building global networks, while also fostering international collaborations with meaningful impact on the development of Islamic higher education.

Meanwhile, Gökhan Kesser, representing TİKA's Asia Pacific Desk Expert team, welcomed the establishment of this cooperation. He noted that UIN Sunan Kalijaga holds a particularly important position for his organization, recorded as TİKA's second partner in Indonesia, following its earlier cooperation with Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta.

Through the development of the Turkish Corner at the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Library and the Turkish Language classroom at the Language Development Center, this cooperation is expected to serve as a bridge strengthening bilateral relations between Indonesia and Turkey, particularly in the fields of higher education, human resource development, and cultural diplomacy.

TİKA itself is an official agency of the Government of the Republic of Turkey, established in 1992, tasked with carrying out international development cooperation under the coordination of the Turkish government. Over more than three decades, TİKA has implemented a wide range of programs in education, health, cultural heritage preservation, social infrastructure development, and humanitarian assistance in more than 170 countries, including Indonesia.

For UIN Sunan Kalijaga, collaboration with TİKA forms part of the university's internationalization strategy, aimed at expanding its global network, improving the quality of learning, and strengthening academic diplomacy through cooperation with a range of international partners. The Turkish Corner and Turkish language instruction are expected to serve, going forward, as a hub for activities that foster cross-cultural learning, introduce the Turkish language and civilization to the campus community, and open up broader opportunities for collaboration in the future. (IO/Humas)