UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta is strengthening its contribution to the career development of students and alumni of Islamic Higher Education Institutions (PTKI). This is marked by the trust placed in Noor Saif Muhammad Mussafi, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., Head of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Career Development (CENDI) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, as Coordinator of the Tracer Study Division of the Association of Career and Student Talent Development Centers of PTKI (PERMATA-PTKI) for the 2026-2028 term.

The PERMATA-PTKI board was formed at the PTKI Student Talent Enhancement Forum, held at Hotel Royal Darmo Malioboro in Yogyakarta on October 8-10, 2026. At the forum, Dr. Heri Gunawan, S.Pd.I., M.Ag., Head of the Career Development Center (CDC) at UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, was elected by acclamation as Chair of PERMATA-PTKI for 2026-2028.

Papay Supriatna, M.Pd., Head of the Subdirectorate for Facilities, Infrastructure, and Student Affairs at the Directorate of Islamic Higher Education, Directorate General of Islamic Education, Ministry of Religious Affairs, together with H. Sugiyono, M.IP., Head of the Student Affairs Subteam, emphasized the important role of career development centers in connecting students and alumni with the world of work.

On this occasion, Papay expressed his hope that PERMATA-PTKI can improve the competitiveness of PTKI graduates. “True to its name, PERMATA-PTKI wants to make PTKI a gem, valuable and sought after by many,” he said.

The trust placed in the Head of CENDI UIN Sunan Kalijaga to coordinate the Tracer Study Division is a strategic opportunity to strengthen graduate tracking systems across PTKI. Tracer studies play an important role in providing information on alumni's journeys after completing their education, from the transition into the workforce and the time it takes to find a job, to the match between jobs and competencies and the skills needed in professional settings.

This information can serve as a basis for universities to evaluate the relevance of their teaching, refine their curricula, and improve the quality of their career development services. In this way, tracer studies function not only as a tool for collecting alumni data but also as a source of information to support data-driven decision-making.

For CENDI UIN Sunan Kalijaga, involvement in PERMATA-PTKI aligns with efforts to integrate student competency development, alumni tracking, and the needs of businesses and industry (DUDI).

Through this national network, universities are expected to share experiences and good practices in conducting tracer studies, including improving the quality of instruments, aligning indicators, expanding alumni participation, and making better use of graduate tracking results.

The 2026-2028 PERMATA-PTKI board covers three strategic areas: career and student talent development, tracer studies, and entrepreneurship and partnerships. These three areas are designed to support more integrated and sustainable career development services.

In the board structure, Wahyono, M.Pd.I., of UIN Cirebon serves as Vice Chair. Dr. Ahmad Ghozi, M.A., of UIN Malang is Secretary I; Nasrul Fahmi Zaki Fuadi, Lc., M.Si., of UIN Semarang is Secretary II; and Dr. Layyin Mahfiana, S.H., M.Hum., of UIN Surakarta is Treasurer.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Kholis Hamdy, S.Sos.I., M.Int.Dev., of UIN Jakarta serves as Coordinator of the Career and Student Talent Development Division. Noor Saif Muhammad Mussafi, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., of UIN Sunan Kalijaga coordinates the Tracer Study Division, while Dr. As'ari, S.S., M.Si., of UIN Banten is Coordinator of the Entrepreneurship and Partnerships Division.

The synergy among these three areas is expected to strengthen students' readiness to enter the professional world, provide information on alumni's needs and progress, and encourage the growth of new entrepreneurs. With this approach, student talent development is oriented not only toward job readiness but also toward the ability to create business opportunities and generate jobs.

The PTKI Student Talent Enhancement Forum also discussed strengthening the systems that support these services, through an introduction to the Talenta Connect application, discussions on tracer studies, and the drafting and evaluation of technical guidelines for the application.

The activity involved various parties, including the student affairs team, the PRIMA platform development team, the Inspectorate General (Itjen), the Organization and Legal Affairs (OKH) team, and the Data and Information Technology Center (Pusdatin). This cross-unit involvement shows the importance of coordination in building an integrated system for student talent development services.

In this context, the PERMATA-PTKI Tracer Study Division has an opportunity to improve the quality of alumni data management by strengthening respondent participation, standardizing reporting, exchanging good practices, and using tracer study results for higher education evaluation.

Alumni data management must also take personal data protection into account, so that the information collected can be used responsibly, securely, and in accordance with applicable regulations.

PERMATA-PTKI carries a vision of becoming an association of PTKI career and talent development centers that is excellent, integrative, and nationally reputable in preparing a generation of professionals with integrity and global competitiveness.

To realize this vision, it will be necessary to strengthen the institutional capacity of CDCs, develop service quality standards, expand partnerships with businesses and industry, and run talent development programs that combine professional competence with Islamic ethical values.

For UIN Sunan Kalijaga, the Head of CENDI's participation in the PERMATA-PTKI board is an opportunity to expand collaboration among universities and share experiences in developing career services, alumni tracking, and entrepreneurship. This network also has the potential to strengthen partnerships with government agencies, industry, and various institutions that support the job readiness of PTKI graduates.

In his role as Coordinator of the Tracer Study Division, Noor Saif Muhammad Mussafi is expected to contribute to promoting high-quality, standardized, and sustainable tracer studies across PTKI.

This involvement also affirms CENDI UIN Sunan Kalijaga's commitment to strengthening the link between higher education, talent development, and societal needs. With synergy among universities and support from various stakeholders, PTKI graduates are expected to be not only ready to enter the workforce but also capable of innovating, growing businesses, and creating opportunities for the wider community. (humassk)