Pancasila education in higher institutions can no longer be treated merely as rote material or a compulsory course. Pancasila values must be brought to life as an ethical foundation that shapes how people think, develop knowledge, and solve societal problems. This idea formed the common thread of the National Symposium on Pancasila Education themed “Through the Integration of Knowledge, Spirituality, and Nationhood: Strengthening Pancasila Ideology through an Integrative, Interconnective, and Transformative Perspective,” held by UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta through its Centre for Integrative, Interconnected, and Transformative Studies (CIINTRA) in collaboration with the Agency for Pancasila Ideology Development (BPIP) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta's Convention Hall on Monday (7/27/2026).

The hybrid symposium drew around 250 in-person participants at the Convention Hall, along with additional attendees joining online from various universities, government institutions, and academic communities across Indonesia. Enthusiasm was evident from the opening session through the academic panel discussions, reflecting strong interest in strengthening Pancasila education in ways relevant to the nation's current challenges.

The event was formally opened with a gong-striking ceremony by BPIP Head Prof. K.H. Yudian Wahyudi, M.A., Ph.D., accompanied by UIN Sunan Kalijaga Rector Prof. Noorhaidi and the attending speakers, symbolizing the launch of a national academic forum aimed at strengthening Pancasila education through an integrative, interconnective, and transformative approach.

In her remarks, CIINTRA Director and Committee Chair Prof. Dr. Eva Latipah said the greatest challenge facing Pancasila education in higher education is no longer students' ability to memorize the five principles, but how those values can be internalized and applied in daily life and professional practice.

She noted that Pancasila education must shift from a normative approach toward learning that connects Pancasila values with real-world issues across fields such as health, technology, economics, education, and culture.

“It is not enough for students to simply memorize Pancasila. Its values must become a way of thinking, a way of making decisions, and an ethical foundation within every academic discipline,” she said.

Eva explained that CIINTRA reflects UIN Sunan Kalijaga's ongoing effort to develop an integrative, interconnective, and transformative paradigm; one that brings together knowledge, spirituality, humanity, and culture within a unified academic framework. Within this paradigm, Pancasila serves as a horizon of ethics guiding both the development of knowledge and social transformation.

“Knowledge must not stop at ideas. It must transform how we think, how we act, and how we solve problems in society. Through this symposium, we hope to produce a model of integrative Pancasila education so its values are present across every field of study,” she added.

Opening the symposium, Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan emphasized that the event reflects UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta's commitment to strengthening higher education's contribution to the development of Pancasila ideology through an academic approach that defines the university's identity.

On this occasion, the Rector paid tribute to two figures who played major roles in UIN Sunan Kalijaga's history: Prof. Dr. M. Amin Abdullah, Rector from 2001–2010, and Prof. K.H. Yudian Wahyudi, M.A., Ph.D., Rector from 2016–2024. Both were credited with laying a strong foundation for the university's development through visionary leadership during their respective terms. Prof. Amin Abdullah is known as the originator of the integration-interconnection paradigm that has become UIN Sunan Kalijaga's academic identity, while Prof. Yudian Wahyudi strengthened institutional transformation, internationalization, and the university's competitiveness. Thanks to their contributions, UIN Sunan Kalijaga has grown into one of Indonesia's leading Islamic universities.

The Rector also highlighted UIN Sunan Kalijaga's recent achievements, including its ranking as Indonesia's top State Islamic Higher Education Institution (PTKIN) according to Webometrics, as well as international recognition through the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. He said these achievements reflect the university's sustained commitment to developing a paradigm of knowledge integration that has now earned global recognition.

In his address, Noorhaidi stressed that Pancasila is not merely a state ideology but a fundamental philosophy of national life and a moral compass that has preserved Indonesia's unity for decades as a diverse nation.

“Amid the rapid pace of globalization, rising exclusivism, and various national challenges, Pancasila cannot be taught in a merely legalistic or indoctrinating manner. Pancasila education must be delivered through an integrative and interconnective lens so that it truly comes alive throughout the learning process,” he affirmed.

He added that UIN Sunan Kalijaga aims to make a more tangible contribution by embedding Pancasila values throughout education, research, and community service. In doing so, Pancasila would not be confined to a single course, but would become a perspective that informs every academic discipline.

Meanwhile, BPIP Head Prof. K.H. Yudian Wahyudi called on universities to draw lessons from world civilizational history. He noted that the decline of a nation occurs when science and technology become separated from religious values, whereas progress can only be achieved through the integration of scientific mastery, research, and morality.

He cited the historical decline of Islamic civilization in Andalusia, which occurred when its tradition of experimental scholarship and technology was abandoned. Drawing on this historical lesson, Yudian stressed that Indonesia must strengthen its mastery of science and technology without abandoning the foundation of Pancasila and religious values.

“Knowledge, religion, and research must move forward together. A nation that masters science and technology will become a nation that leads civilization,” he said.

According to Yudian, State Islamic Higher Education Institutions (PTKIN), particularly UIN Sunan Kalijaga, hold a strategic position in producing human resources who excel not only in religious knowledge but also in science and technology, while possessing strong national character. He considers the knowledge-integration paradigm developed by UIN Sunan Kalijaga an important foundation for realizing Indonesia's vision of becoming an advanced nation in the future.

Following the opening session, the symposium continued with a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Sujadi, featuring four prominent scholars from various disciplines. Prof. Dr. M. Amin Abdullah, a member of BPIP's Steering Board, opened the discussion with a presentation titled "Pancasila as an Ethics of Knowledge and National Spirituality in an Integrative–Interconnective–Transformative Perspective," underscoring the importance of Pancasila as an ethical orientation in the development of knowledge.

Next, Prof. Dr. Melani Budianta, Professor Emeritus of Literary Studies at the Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Indonesia, member of the Cultural Commission of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI), and recipient of the 2025 Kompas Dedicated Scholar Award, presented on "Grounding Pancasila as a Cultural Practice." Known for her expertise in cultural studies, comparative literature, gender studies, and postcolonialism, she invited participants to understand Pancasila as a social and cultural practice sustained through respect for diversity, humanity, and national spirit.

The next speaker, presenting online from the Indonesian Embassy in Tashkent, was Prof. Dr. Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin, Professor of Human Rights and Gender Studies and Indonesia's Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. She highlighted the importance of Pancasila education from a gender and global humanitarian perspective as a foundation for equality, tolerance, and peace in multicultural societies.

The panel concluded with Prof. Dr. Phil. Sahiron Syamsuddin, M.A., Director of Islamic Higher Education at Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs, who presented on "Knowledge Integration: Islamic Studies, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Robotics." He explained that the development of scholarship at Islamic higher education institutions must integrate Islamic studies with science and technology, including AI and robotics, through an approach that is methodical, substantive, and ethical. He added that technological progress must remain guided by Islamic and humanistic values so that the resulting innovations bring genuine benefit to society.

The symposium was also marked by the announcement of winners of the 2026 National Pancasila Education Essay Competition, which drew entries from participants in both the higher education category and the high school/vocational school category from across Indonesia. In the higher education category, first place went to Ananda Shifa Chamilla of Universitas Negeri Padang, second place to Zadairfa' Tibyan Al-Khobari of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, and third place to Fikri Hakim Ash-Shiddiqy of STIS Syubbanul Wathon Magelang. In the high school/vocational school category, first place went to Alisha Yuda Paramitha of SMA Negeri 3 Yogyakarta, second place to Zahrothus Sitta of MAN 1 OKU Timur, and third place to Muhammad Eska Ghazali Sugiyanto of SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Bantul. The awards presented to the winners recognized young people's contributions to developing critical and innovative ideas for strengthening Pancasila values amid the dynamics of national life.

Through this National Symposium on Pancasila Education, UIN Sunan Kalijaga reaffirmed its role as a center for developing the integration-interconnection paradigm that unites knowledge, Islamic values, humanity, and nationhood into a mutually reinforcing whole. Together with BPIP, UIN Sunan Kalijaga seeks to present a model of Pancasila education that goes beyond the conceptual level; one capable of transforming how people think, act, and resolve national challenges through the advancement of knowledge grounded in Pancasila values. (humassk)