UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta welcomed a benchmarking delegation from the Institut Agama Islam Hasan Jufri (INHAFI) Bawean on Thursday (11/6/2026) in the 2nd Floor Meeting Room of the Prof. KH. Saifuddin Zuhri Building, UIN Sunan Kalijaga. The visit served as both an academic courtesy call and a forum for sharing experiences on accreditation, university governance, and the exploration of inter-institutional cooperation.

The INHAFI Bawean delegation was received by UIN Sunan Kalijaga Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and Institutional Development Prof. Istiningsih, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Teacher Training Prof. Sigit Purnomo, Vice Dean I of the Faculty of Sharia and Law Dr. Ocktoberrinsyah, Research and Publication Center Coordinator of LPPM Dr. Moh. Mufid, and Chair of the Quality Assurance Institute (LPM) Prof. Dwi Agustina Kurniawati, along with supporting staff. The INHAFI Bawean team was led by Rector Abdul Halim, Lc., M.H., accompanied by Vice Rector I Dr. Ainun Barakah, Vice Rector II Ulfatun Najihah, Vice Rector III Dr. Abdul Hafid, along with deans, heads of study programs, and representatives from LPM and LPPM.

In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan emphasized that UIN Sunan Kalijaga prioritizes collaboration with tangible impact over ceremonial memorandum-of-understanding signings.

"What matters most is not the signing of an MoU, but concrete activities whose benefits can be felt directly by both parties. Collaboration can begin first, while the administrative aspects can be formalized later," he said.

The Rector also expressed UIN Sunan Kalijaga's openness to supporting INHAFI Bawean's human resource development, both through doctoral study programs for lecturers and through student exchanges across various academic programs. He noted that mapping human resource development needs is an important first step in determining the most relevant form of collaboration.

On the occasion, Prof. Noorhaidi also outlined UIN Sunan Kalijaga's current profile, which includes approximately 25,000 students and 764 lecturers, with 13 percent holding the rank of full professor. The Faculty of Education and Teacher Training (FITK) is the largest faculty, comprising 19 study programs and around 6,000 students. Additionally, UIN Sunan Kalijaga's doctoral programs have produced approximately 1,400 to 1,500 graduates across various academic disciplines.

INHAFI Bawean Rector Abdul Halim, for his part, shared that the visit was aimed not only at strengthening institutional ties, but also at providing INHAFI with an opportunity to learn about improving university governance and academic quality.

"We hope to gain insights and learn from UIN Sunan Kalijaga's experience, particularly regarding accreditation, lecturer human resource development, and university management strategies. We hope that INHAFI can continue to grow and prepare itself for a broader institutional transformation in the future," he said.

Abdul Halim explained that INHAFI operates under the Hasan Jufri Bawean Islamic Boarding School Foundation. As a higher education institution located in an island region, it faces a range of challenges, particularly related to accessibility and transportation. Nevertheless, the commitment to improving academic quality remains a top priority, including accelerating lecturers' functional academic ranks and the goal of producing professors within the next few years.

The warm and engaging discussion also covered various opportunities for further collaboration, ranging from advanced degree programs for lecturers and the development of postgraduate programs, to joint research and community service initiatives through LP2M, as well as student mobility programs and community fieldwork programs (KKN) involving national partners.

UIN Sunan Kalijaga Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and Institutional Development Prof. Istiningsih added that follow-up on the collaboration would be discussed in greater technical detail through coordination among relevant units, with the aim of producing concrete and sustainable programs.

Through this benchmarking visit, both institutions expressed hope for a synergy that would not only strengthen their respective institutional capacities, but also contribute to improving the quality of Islamic higher education in Indonesia, including in island territories and remote regions. (humassk)