UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta served as the host of the 2026 National Working Meeting (Rakernas) of the Association of Islamic Economics and Business Faculties (AFEBIS), held at The Alana Yogyakarta Hotel & Convention Center on Monday (15/6/2026). The event served as a strategic moment for the leadership of Islamic Economics and Business Faculties (FEBI) from across Indonesia to strengthen collaboration and chart the direction of Islamic economics and business higher education amid an ever-evolving global landscape.

The Rakernas opened with the inauguration of the AFEBIS National Executive Board for the 2026–2028 term, conducted by Prof. Dr. Phil. Sahiron, M.A. During the ceremony, Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business (FEBI) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Prof. Dr. Misnen Ardiansyah, was inaugurated as AFEBIS General Chairperson for the 2026–2028 period.

Also inaugurated into the national AFEBIS executive board were Prof. Dr. Rizal (Dean of FEBI UIN Mahmud Yunus Batu Sangkar) as Deputy General Chairperson, Dr. Rafida (Dean of FEBI UIN STS Jambi) as Secretary General, Dr. H. Zaki Mubarak (Dean of FEBI UIN Antasari Banjarmasin) as Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Rodliyah Hasan Jan (Dean of FEBI IAIN Manado) as General Treasurer, and Prof. Maya Panorama (Dean of FEBI UIN Raden Fatah Palembang) as Deputy General Treasurer. The board members also took their oaths of office, pledging to carry out their organizational mandate with full responsibility, uphold the reputation of the organization, and adhere to Islamic values, ethics, and academic professionalism.

In his remarks, Prof. Misnen Ardiansyah affirmed that AFEBIS holds an important position in supporting the development of Islamic economics and business in Indonesia. He noted that the sector is currently showing a very positive trend and gaining increasing attention at both the national and international levels.

"Various national strategic programs and policies need to be directed toward strengthening the Islamic economics and business ecosystem as part of efforts to achieve inclusive and sustainable development," he said.

Prof. Misnen explained that AFEBIS has been actively providing input to the Directorate General of Islamic Education at the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, particularly regarding the development of Islamic economics and business scholarship and the establishment of Hajj and Umrah Management study programs. This contribution, he noted, reflects AFEBIS's commitment to ensuring that Islamic economics and business higher education remains relevant to societal needs and industry developments.

He also highlighted the rapid growth of FEBI institutions across Islamic higher education institutions in Indonesia. The increasing number of study programs, improvements in academic quality, and the expanding contributions of FEBI to knowledge development and community empowerment all point to the strengthening position of Islamic economics and business within the national higher education landscape.

The Rakernas also addressed a number of strategic issues, including the strengthening of Islamic economics and business scholarship, the restructuring of study program nomenclature, the development of halal and Hajj ecosystems, and efforts to enhance the competitiveness of FEBI in responding to the increasingly widespread development of Islamic economics across general universities.

Prof. Misnen expressed hope that FEBI institutions throughout Indonesia would continue to improve the quality of their education, research, and community service. He also emphasized the importance of AFEBIS as a platform for strategic inter-university collaboration to strengthen institutional capacity and academic quality.

"AFEBIS must be a space for collaboration that is capable of strengthening the contribution of Islamic economics and business to national development," he asserted.

UIN Sunan Kalijaga Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, for his part, expressed appreciation for the trust placed in UIN Sunan Kalijaga as the host of the 2026 AFEBIS Rakernas. He also extended congratulations to all newly inaugurated AFEBIS board members, particularly Prof. Misnen Ardiansyah, who has been entrusted with leading AFEBIS for the 2026–2028 period.

According to Prof. Noorhaidi, the inauguration of the AFEBIS board is not merely a ceremonial event, but an important moment to reaffirm a shared commitment to advancing Islamic economics and business higher education in Indonesia.

"AFEBIS is expected to preserve and rekindle the spirit of FEBI's founders, who laid the groundwork for the development of Islamic economics and business within Islamic higher education institutions," he said.

He further highlighted the major challenges facing the world today, from global geopolitical dynamics and conflicts in the Middle East to the acceleration of digital transformation, which is reshaping economic systems and the world of work. While digital technology brings efficiency and improved economic access, he noted, it also gives rise to economic exclusion, placing pressure on some conventional businesses and workers as a result of changing business models and automation.

"These conditions call for solutions that are more inclusive and equitable. Islamic economics and business have a great opportunity to offer alternative solutions to contemporary problems that conventional economic systems have not yet been fully able to address," he explained.

Prof. Noorhaidi therefore emphasized that FEBI carries a strategic responsibility to equip the younger generation with the competencies, skills, and entrepreneurial spirit needed to meet the demands of a changing era. He also underscored the importance of regularly updating curricula to keep them relevant to global economic developments and the needs of future industries.

Closing his remarks, Prof. Noorhaidi expressed hope that AFEBIS under the leadership of Prof. Misnen Ardiansyah would continue to drive innovation and strengthen inter-university collaboration, enabling FEBI institutions across Indonesia to produce graduates who are excellent, competitive, and capable of contributing solutions to economic challenges at both the national and global levels.

Through the 2026 AFEBIS Rakernas, participants are expected to produce work programs and strategic recommendations that strengthen the role of Islamic economics and business in national development, while further consolidating FEBI's position as the driving force behind the development of Islamic economics in Indonesia. (humassk)