Entering graduate-level education, students are expected not only to master their field of study, but also to develop critical thinking, academic writing, research skills, and scholarly networks. This spirit was central to the Learning Socialization (SOSPEM) and Matriculation program for new master's and doctoral students at the Faculty of Ushuluddin and Islamic Thought (FUPI), UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta.

The series of activities concluded on Tuesday (9/8/2026) at FUPI Park, UIN Sunan Kalijaga. Rather than serving merely as a welcoming event for new students, SOSPEM and Matriculation were designed as an initial stage to introduce academic culture while preparing students for the distinct nature of learning at the master's and doctoral levels.

Dean of FUPI UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Prof. H. Robby Habiba Abror, emphasized that graduate-level learning differs in character from undergraduate education. For this reason, the introduction to academic culture needs to be tailored to the scholarly demands faced by master's and doctoral students.

“The introduction to campus culture needs to be adapted to the graduate level. There are naturally differences between the material and learning patterns at the undergraduate level compared to the master's and doctoral levels,” he explained.

Through matriculation, students were introduced to a number of fundamental skills that support their academic journey, including philosophy of science, academic writing, and subject matter specific to each study program's focus. This material serves as an initial foundation for students to develop their research abilities and produce quality academic work.

This reinforcement was also supported by the involvement of professors, study program heads and secretaries, and lecturers with experience in research and scholarly publication, both in national and international journals. Direct interaction with academics is expected to give students a more concrete picture of the dynamics of research and academic life.

Notably, this early learning process was marked by a range of critical questions from students. One issue that came up prominently was strategies for getting published in international journals.

For Robby, such questions are actually a positive indicator of a growing academic tradition among graduate students.

“The harder the questions being asked, the more it shows students are becoming more critical in seeking answers. Questions like how to break into international journals actually energize the facilitators to share their experience and knowledge,” he said.

Beyond building academic foundations, FUPI has also begun introducing students to the global academic environment. Strengthening international networks is one part of graduate education development within FUPI at UIN Sunan Kalijaga.

Robby explained that FUPI has experience in academic engagement with several universities abroad, particularly in Malaysia. One example was a visit by 12 deans from Islamic studies faculties at several Malaysian universities, who were received by UIN Sunan Kalijaga Rector, Prof. Noorhaidi.

Cooperation with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), including through student exchange programs, is also part of the effort to open up international academic experiences for students. In the previous semester, FUPI also hosted a visit of around 40 students and lecturers from Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.

According to Robby, these various forms of engagement reflect the growing space for collaboration between FUPI and international universities.

“This has become a particular draw for the faculty. That's why students need to be introduced to patterns of international cooperation and academic networking from the very start,” he said.

These networks serve as important capital for students to understand that graduate education does not stop at the classroom. Scholarly discussion, collaborative research, publication, student exchange, and interaction with academics from various countries are all part of the academic experience that needs to be cultivated from the outset.

The strengthening of FUPI's graduate education has also gone hand in hand with the development of its study programs. In the 2026/2027 academic year, FUPI offers several master's programs: Master of Islamic Theology and Philosophy (AFI), Master of Religious Studies (MSAA), Master of Qur'anic and Tafsir Studies (IAT), Master of Sociology of Religion (SA), and Master of Hadith Studies.

At the doctoral level, FUPI offers a Doctoral Program in Islamic Theology and Philosophy (AFI) and is currently preparing to develop a Doctoral Program in Qur'anic and Hadith Studies (IAT).

This growth reflects FUPI's ongoing effort to expand options for Islamic higher education while responding to the need for scholarly development amid societal change and global academic challenges.

Vice Dean for Academic Affairs of FUPI UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Prof. Saifuddin Zuhri, reported that this academic year, 111 master's and doctoral students are enrolled across six study programs.

According to Saifuddin, this year's matriculation served to reinforce the SOSPEM agenda, which has previously formed part of the graduate student welcoming process.

“The purpose of matriculation is to build a shared understanding within each study program and to provide an initial foundation for students,” he said.

He expressed hope that the presence of graduate students would further enliven the intellectual atmosphere within FUPI. Academic activity, he said, is expected to extend beyond the lecture hall, growing through discussion, research, publication, and the exchange of ideas.

“As student activity becomes increasingly dynamic, the faculty will not only be an administrative space, but will also become a living intellectual space,” he said.

For FUPI, the interaction during SOSPEM and Matriculation was also a two-way process. Students brought new perspectives, ideas, and questions, while lecturers gained input to continue developing learning approaches relevant to students' academic needs.

The closing of SOSPEM and Matriculation, then, marks more than just the end of an orientation period. It signals the beginning of the academic journey for master's and doctoral students to grow within a scholarly environment that is critical, open, collaborative, and connected to a broader academic network.

With a strong academic foundation and access to national and international networks, FUPI's graduate students are expected to develop into productive academics and intellectuals, contributing through research, publication, and the advancement of knowledge, as well as making meaningful contributions to society, religion, and the nation. (humassk)