Keeping Yogyakarta a city of students requires synergy among many parts of society, including universities. Through scholarly strength, the development of social values, and a culture of dialogue, campuses play a strategic role in building a community that is safe, harmonious, and conducive to daily life.
This idea came to the fore during a courtesy visit by the Chief of the Special Region of Yogyakarta Regional Police (Kapolda DIY) and his staff to UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The warm meeting, held in the Rector's Office, was hosted by Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, accompanied by Vice Rector I Prof. Istiningsih, Vice Rector II Prof. Mochamad Sodik, Vice Rector III Prof. Abdur Rozaki, and several university leaders.
During the conversation, the Rector described UIN Sunan Kalijaga's progress, from strengthening its academic resources and its national and international achievements to expanding its fields of study through several new study programs, including a Faculty of Medicine. One of its most recent achievements is the university's ranking in the 801–1000 band in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027.
The Kapolda DIY praised this progress and described UIN Sunan Kalijaga as a model of university management, in both institutional governance and scholarly development. In his view, the campus's academic capacity and the values it cultivates are important assets in supporting security, public order, and a peaceful community.
In line with the National Police Chief's message on the importance of the police working alongside the community, the Kapolda stressed the need to build communication with various groups, including universities, as partners in sustaining a harmonious social life.
The discussion then turned to leadership principles grounded in cultural and spiritual values. The Kapolda raised the Javanese philosophy of *hamemayu hayuning bawana*, which carries a message about human responsibility to maintain harmony and care for life.
This philosophy is seen as relevant to leadership that puts wisdom, social harmony, and the common good first. In the context of Yogyakarta, local wisdom is an important strength for bringing modern institutional approaches together with the community's cultural roots.
The meeting also opened exploration of academic and non-academic cooperation between UIN Sunan Kalijaga and the DIY Regional Police. The Kapolda hopes the communication built here can help keep Yogyakarta a safe and peaceful city of students.
Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan welcomed this hope and expressed the wish that the visit would continue through concrete cooperation that benefits the people of DIY.
Through this dialogue and exploration of collaboration, UIN Sunan Kalijaga strengthens its role as a strategic partner in social development. Its scholarly capacity and the values of local wisdom serve as a foundation for academic contributions that are relevant to the security, harmony, and sustainability of Yogyakarta as a city of education. (humassk)
