Findings by students presented at the Religion, Science, and Research Olympiad (OASE) III PTKIN 2026 carry great hope for strengthening science in Indonesia. Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar urged that these works continue to be developed beyond students' years of study and become a national asset that strengthens Indonesia's standing in the global world of knowledge.

Indonesia's Minister of Religious Affairs, Prof. Nasaruddin Umar, shared this hope during a doorstop session with the media following the opening of OASE III PTKIN 2026 at the Prof. Amin Abdullah Building, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

"We hope that the promising talents we have been preparing at universities will present their findings, which may be further refined after they become alumni," he said.

He hopes that the continued development of these findings can strengthen Indonesia's position in many fields, especially science and research. Student work has the potential to grow into part of the nation's intellectual wealth.

"This is expected to become our nation's wealth, propelling Indonesia into a nation that counts in many fields, especially in science and research," he said.

On the occasion, the Minister also linked the selection of UIN Sunan Kalijaga as the host of OASE III to the university's academic achievements. He praised UIN Sunan Kalijaga for ranking, in his words, second nationally after Universitas Indonesia in the ranking he referred to.

"Congratulations once again to UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta on this extraordinary achievement," he said.

For Prof. Nasaruddin, the achievement shows that religious higher education institutions can compete with other universities. He hopes that the university's accomplishments and the results emerging from OASE will increase public trust in, and interest in, PTKIN.

"I urge our society not to distinguish between public universities and religious universities. This is proof that UIN can compete with anyone," he stated.

At the same time, the Minister stressed the importance of downstreaming (hilirisasi), so that the results of scientific development carry added value. He used coconut processing as an example, noting that it can yield greater value when every part of the coconut is utilized through downstream processing.

He said the government is working to develop exports of processed products. Religious higher education institutions are expected to play a part through technology and research development.

"Please pray that UIN can truly present itself as an institution that greatly enlightens the nation," he said.

To that end, Prof. Nasaruddin shared a plan to involve other religious universities under the Ministry of Religious Affairs in similar events in the future. He said Catholic, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and Confucian universities will have the same opportunity to compete.

"We will treat everyone equally. Let us compete with one another because we are all under one umbrella, the Ministry of Religious Affairs," he said.

From OASE III, developing student research is an important step so that the scientific potential growing at religious universities continues into work that enriches knowledge and benefits society. (humassk)