Age is no barrier to continuing to develop oneself. For Suwardi, finishing a doctoral degree at 56 is proof that the drive to seek knowledge knows no age limit. A lecturer at the Adisutjipto College of Technology in Yogyakarta, he earned the title of best and fastest doctoral graduate at the Period I Graduation Ceremony of Academic Year 2026/2027 of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta on Thursday, November 12, 2026.

Suwardi, born in Sragen on September 4, 1969, completed the Doctoral Program in Islamic Religious Education at the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training in 3 years, 5 months, and 13 days, with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.84. The achievement was a distinctive academic journey for a lecturer who had to divide his time between work responsibilities and research.

For him, the key to finishing his studies lies not in having plenty of free time but in managing time with discipline. He keeps a dedicated schedule for reading and writing that he follows consistently every day.

"I use the morning to write for about three hours. In the afternoon after the Asr prayer, I read. Then at night after Isha, I read and write again until about 11 p.m.," he said.

He followed this pattern from the start of his doctoral studies until he finished. He tried to make the most of the time available by cutting back on activities unrelated to work or study.

"The 24 hours have to be divided. I have my own program so that every moment can be used as well as possible," he said.

Suwardi's academic path is an interesting one. He has an educational and professional background in aviation technology, or aeronautics. But his pesantren (Islamic boarding school) education, which shaped the foundation of his life, also fed a desire to deepen his religious knowledge.

In his view, mastery of science and technology must go hand in hand with religious understanding. If technological knowledge can benefit human life, religious knowledge is the provision for building values, character (akhlak), and social responsibility.

That desire brought him back to the classroom after he completed his master's degree at UIN Sunan Kalijaga in 2012 with cum laude honors. His earlier academic experience left him with no hesitation in choosing the same campus for his doctorate.

"I was already familiar with UIN Sunan Kalijaga. I also knew the advisors and the academic environment. That is why I chose to return to UIN Sunan Kalijaga to study further," he explained.

In his dissertation, Suwardi examined the use of Javanese art and culture as a medium for character education. He explored the philosophical values in wayang (shadow puppetry) and gamelan (traditional Javanese orchestra) to support moral learning and character formation in students.

In his view, character education does not always have to be delivered through conventional teaching methods. Media close to people's lives and culture can in fact be an effective way to instill good values.

He cited the learning practice at SMK Negeri 8 Surakarta, which uses wayang and gamelan as a medium to introduce character values to students.

The idea also reminded him of Sunan Kalijaga's approach to religious outreach (dakwah), which used art and culture to convey Islamic teachings to Javanese society.

"It turns out wayang and gamelan have a very good philosophy. They contain values of morality and character that can be taught to the younger generation," he said.

For him, a culture-based approach to education has the potential to be developed more widely. Art is not merely a traditional heritage but can also be a relevant learning tool for building the character of today's generation.

Suwardi said the academic process at UIN Sunan Kalijaga supported his development, especially through the learning process, research mentoring, academic materials, and administrative management that helped his studies go smoothly.

The experience of becoming a student again, more than a decade after finishing his master's degree, also strengthened his belief that self-development must continue, whether through formal education or professional experience.

To lecturers and students, he urges them not to treat graduation as the end of the learning journey. Instead, education at every level is a foothold for broadening knowledge and making bigger contributions to society.

"Learning lasts a lifetime. Finishing a bachelor's degree doesn't mean everything is done. A bachelor's degree is in fact the start of developing knowledge more broadly," he said.

At 56, Suwardi shows that the will to learn is not set by age or by a busy schedule. Through discipline, perseverance, and a willingness to keep growing, he proves that the chance to develop oneself is always open. For him, knowledge is not merely an academic achievement but a provision for continuing to serve and benefit others. (humassk)