Completing a doctoral degree is not only about finishing coursework. It is also about perseverance in nurturing ideas, managing time, and bringing together diverse scholarly perspectives. This is the path taken by Abd. Aziz Faiz, the best and fastest graduate at the doctoral (S-3) level in the Islamic Studies Doctoral Program at the Graduate School of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, at the second day of the First Period Commencement 2026/2027 on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in the Multipurpose Building at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta.

Despite a busy schedule as a lecturer in the Sociology of Religion Study Program at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Faiz completed his doctoral studies in less than four years. This achievement is proof that discipline and time management play an important role in balancing academic and professional responsibilities.

Faiz chose urban Islam as the theme of his dissertation, focusing on the religious practices of city dwellers. He sought to understand how religious life cannot be separated from social structures, including social status and class.

In his view, the religious practices of urban communities have their own dynamics. Religiosity does not always take a uniform form; it is also shaped by a person's social background and position in society.

Through this research, Faiz sought to map religious practices, particularly among the urban middle class and intellectuals. The study also shows how Islamic studies can keep developing by reading social reality critically and contextually.

For Faiz, the greatest challenge in his doctoral studies was not the coursework but finishing the dissertation. The process demanded perseverance, openness to criticism, and the ability to accommodate a range of academic perspectives.

He acknowledged that the supervision and examination of a dissertation involve many people whose views and feedback are not always the same. Reconciling those different ideas became a distinct part of his academic journey.

"The hardest challenge was writing the dissertation. Bringing together the thoughts and feedback of the supervisors and examiners in writing the dissertation became an art and a challenge in itself," he said.

Throughout the process, Faiz held to two main principles: discipline and time management. Both were key to balancing the obligation to finish his studies with his responsibilities as a lecturer.

For him, finishing on time is not merely a matter of speed but of setting priorities and consistently carrying out each academic stage.

Beyond personal discipline, Faiz believes the academic environment at UIN Sunan Kalijaga provided important support during his studies. The academic culture on campus was one factor that encouraged the development of scholarly capacity and research productivity.

He highlighted study groups, academic seminars, and international networks as spaces that support broader perspectives and the exchange of ideas. The support of the academic community for research and publication is also an important part of that ecosystem.

According to Faiz, a good academic culture does not only help students finish their studies but also builds a productive and sustainable scholarly tradition.

This experience reflects UIN Sunan Kalijaga's commitment to developing a higher education environment that goes beyond classroom learning to encourage research, publication, collaboration, and the growth of scholarly networks.

For Faiz, research should not end as a scholarly publication. Research findings need to be translated into concrete ideas and programs that directly benefit society.

He sees the downstreaming of research, or turning findings into practical application, as an important step in ensuring that the knowledge a university produces has real impact. For this reason, he hopes his research, already published in national and international journals, can be developed further through community service and application in society.

"The impact will later be carried out through the downstreaming of research. From the research, we then derive concrete programs that are applied directly in the community," he explained.

This view is in line with efforts to strengthen the role of universities in producing research that not only contributes to the advancement of knowledge but also responds to society's needs and problems.

Now that he has earned his doctorate, Faiz is determined to return to his primary responsibilities as a lecturer. Teaching, research, and community service remain the three pillars he wants to keep carrying out.

For him, this academic achievement is not the end of the journey but a foundation for expanding his contribution through education and the advancement of knowledge.

As for the hope of reaching the highest academic rank, full professor, he regards it as a bonus of a long journey of service in academia.

Faiz's story shows that academic success is measured not only by degrees and the speed of completing one's studies. More than that, such achievements find their meaning when knowledge continues to be developed, shared, and offered as a solution for society. (humassk)