UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta continues to strengthen its internationalization by developing academic networks with leading Islamic universities abroad. This commitment is reflected in the Visiting Professor program carried out by Prof. Dr. H. Abdul Mustaqim, Professor of Qur'anic Studies and Exegesis at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, at Zaitouna University in Tunis, Tunisia, in early October 2026.

The program serves not only as a channel for exchanging knowledge through lectures and academic discussion, but also opens opportunities for research collaboration, international publications, professor exchanges, and stronger institutional cooperation between the two universities.

One of the main focuses of Prof. Abdul Mustaqim's activities is the development of Maqāṣidī Exegesis (Tafsīr Maqāṣidī), Maqāṣid al-Sharī'ah, and contemporary Islamic issues. Using this approach, he presented the theme "Islam and Followers of Other Religions in the Perspective of Maqāṣidī Exegesis: Religious Plurality in the Contemporary World."

In Arabic, the theme is formulated as:

الإسلام وأتباع الأديان الأخرى في منظور التفسير المقاصدي: من التوتر الديني إلى التعايش السلمي في سياق التعددية الدينية المعاصرة

The study examines the Qur'anic perspective on religious diversity, the importance of distinguishing theological differences from social hostility, and the contribution of the Maqāṣidī Exegesis approach to building just, peaceful, and dignified interreligious relations in plural societies.

Teaching Maqāṣidī Exegesis at Zaitouna University

One of the main agenda items of the Visiting Professor program is a lecture titled "Maqāṣidī Exegesis: Theory and Application in Research" for students at Zaitouna University. The event was supported by the Indonesian Students Association (PPI) Tunisia, the Special Branch Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PCI NU) Tunisia, and the Special Branch Board of Muhammadiyah (PCI Muhammadiyah) Tunisia.

The first lecture was held on October 7, 2026, from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. Tunis time, and was interactive, combining a presentation with academic discussion.

In the lecture, Prof. Abdul Mustaqim explained the paradigm of Maqāṣidī Exegesis, the intellectual foundations of the maqāṣidī approach to interpreting the Qur'an, and its application as a research approach to address contemporary issues.

The event also served as an intellectual meeting point between the Qur'anic studies tradition in Indonesia and the Islamic scholarly tradition in Tunisia. The support of the Indonesian student community shows that university internationalization can be strengthened through the involvement of students, community organizations, and Indonesian academic networks abroad.

Opening Opportunities for Collaborative Research and International Publication

Beyond teaching, the program is aimed at broadening cross-border research collaboration. Prof. Abdul Mustaqim held academic discussions with Prof. Dr. Ilyas Quwaisim on opportunities for joint research and publication in reputable international journals, particularly Scopus Q1-indexed journals.

The discussion focused on Islam and followers of other religions, religious plurality, and the use of the Maqāṣidī Exegesis approach to understand contemporary issues.

Prof. Ilyas Quwaisim responded positively to the research idea. An initial draft was also submitted to obtain mulāḥaẓāt (critical notes) for refinement before being prepared for international publication.

This collaboration is expected not only to produce joint publications, but also to strengthen research quality, broaden the exchange of ideas, and enhance the academic reputation of both universities globally.

Zaitouna University Rector Encourages Professor Exchange

Strengthening institutional cooperation was an important agenda item of the academic visit. On October 8, 2026, Prof. Abdul Mustaqim met with the Rector of Zaitouna University, Prof. Dr. Muhammed Rizqi, to discuss the aims of the Visiting Professor program and opportunities for cooperation in Qur'anic studies, Maqāṣidī Exegesis, research, publication, and academic exchange.

At the meeting, the Rector of Zaitouna University welcomed the program carried out by UIN Sunan Kalijaga and opened the possibility of developing cooperation through tabādul al-asātidhah, that is, the exchange of professors or lecturers between universities.

This scheme would allow Indonesian and Tunisian academics to teach at the partner university, including taking on particular courses over a longer period.

The opportunity is a strategic step toward developing more structured and sustainable academic mobility. In this way, the Visiting Professor program does not remain an individual visit but can become a gateway to broader academic cooperation.

From MoU to Real Academic Collaboration

The experience at Zaitouna University underscores the importance of following up a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with programs that deliver direct benefits to the academic community.

International cooperation needs to be translated into concrete activities, such as professor exchanges, visiting scholars, guest lecturers, guest lectures, collaborative research, joint publications, and other forms of academic mobility.

Through such programs, professors and lecturers from UIN Sunan Kalijaga have the opportunity to teach and conduct research at partner universities abroad. Conversely, academics from partner universities can also be invited to Yogyakarta to share knowledge, develop research, and strengthen the learning process.

This approach is expected to make international cooperation more productive, measurable, and sustainable, while strengthening UIN Sunan Kalijaga's position as an Islamic university active in global academic networks.

Enriching Research Through Academic Diplomacy and Literature Study

Prof. Abdul Mustaqim's activities in Tunisia also included a meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Tunisia, Zuhairi Misrawi, on October 2, 2026. The meeting discussed developments in Islamic studies in Tunisia, particularly at Zaitouna University, as well as a number of Islamic and global political issues.

In addition, a visit to the Zaitouna University library from October 3 to 6, 2026, was used to enrich research literature and data. The materials explored included Qur'anic and exegetical studies, Maqāṣid al-Sharī'ah, contemporary Islamic thought, and interreligious relations.

These activities show that the Visiting Professor program has a broader dimension than teaching. It also serves as a means of strengthening the research base, developing academic diplomacy, and deepening engagement with the Islamic intellectual heritage through direct interaction with an international academic environment.

Appreciation for Support from Many Parties

Prof. Abdul Mustaqim expressed appreciation and gratitude to the Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Nasaruddin Umar, M.A.; the Secretary General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Prof. Dr. Phil. H. Kamaruddin Amin, M.A.; the Director General of Islamic Education, Prof. Dr. H. Amin Suyitno, M.Ag.; and the Director of Islamic Higher Education, Prof. Dr. Phil. Sahiron Syamsuddin, for their support of the Visiting Professor program.

Thanks were also extended to the Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Prof. Dr. H. Noorhaidi Hasan, M.A., Ph.D.; the Dean of the Faculty of Ushuluddin and Islamic Thought; and all leaders and others who supported the preparation and implementation of the program.

Special appreciation also went to PPI Tunisia, PCI NU Tunisia, PCI Muhammadiyah Tunisia, and the students and others who helped facilitate the academic activities during his stay in Tunis.

This support shows that university internationalization is a shared effort involving university leaders, faculties, lecturers, students, partner universities, and Indonesian community networks abroad.

Strengthening UIN Sunan Kalijaga's Role Globally

The Visiting Professor program at Zaitouna University is expected to become a model for developing UIN Sunan Kalijaga's international cooperation with partner universities that already have MoUs.

Through concrete follow-up, such cooperation can contribute further to building the capacity of faculty and students, strengthening research, international publication, and cross-border academic exchange.

The collaboration between UIN Sunan Kalijaga and Zaitouna University also carries strategic value because it brings together two Islamic educational traditions with strong historical and intellectual roots: the Indonesian Islamic academic tradition and the Tunisian Islamic scholarly tradition.

In the spirit of "From MoU to Meaningful Academic Collaboration," the program affirms that internationalization should be measured not only by the number of formal agreements, but also by the quality of academic interaction and the sustainability of the results it produces.

The Visiting Professor program is a bridge for carrying UIN Sunan Kalijaga's ideas, networks, and academic reputation into the global arena, while also opening opportunities for international professors and academics to contribute to the development of education, research, and Islamic scholarship in Yogyakarta. (humassk)