Academic achievement does not always stop at the numbers on a transcript. For M. Iklilul Ilmy, the best and fastest graduate of the Islamic Religious Education (PAI) Study Program in the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training (FITK) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, finishing his studies has also been a chance to bring benefit to society through technology.

At just 21 years old, the student from Banyuwangi earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.95. He completed his bachelor's degree in 3 years, 9 months, and 4 days. The achievement was announced at the third day of the First Period Commencement for Academic Year 2026/2027 on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta.

Beyond his academic record, Ilmy is interested in developing educational technology, particularly to support access to learning for people with disabilities. One of the works he produced with his peers is HISYA (Hijaiah Isyarat, or Sign Language Hijaiyah), a sign-language Qur'an learning medium for deaf students that has received copyright, or Intellectual Property Rights (HKI).

Ilmy's interest in disability issues grew out of an environment that cared about people with disabilities. He then sought to play a role through technology by developing media suited to their needs.

"Many students, both in school and in college, still don't have broad access to learning. So my friends and I tried to open up that access through the technology we developed," he said.

Notably, HISYA began as an assignment for a Learning Media Development course. Together with his classmates, Ilmy turned the idea into a learning medium that deaf students can use. Lecturers supported the process with feedback, critiques, and suggestions to refine the product.

The medium has been used and evaluated through research. The results showed that students, as users, were satisfied with it. For Ilmy, this experience is proof that a course assignment can be developed into work with real, practical value.

Besides HISYA, Ilmy also produced a scholarly paper titled Students' Perceptions of the Relevance of the Big Data Literacy Course in the 2020 Undergraduate PAI Curriculum at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta in 2026. The work reflects his interest in developing Islamic education that also takes digital literacy into account.

Amid his academic activities and projects, Ilmy has a simple principle for getting through his studies: focus on the responsibility in front of him. He does not burden himself with too much work outside his priorities, but makes sure each course assignment is done as well as possible.

"Focus on doing what needs to be done at that moment. There's no need to burden yourself by adding other work outside your priorities," he explained when describing his strategy for earning a 3.95 GPA.

In his view, the biggest challenge during college came from himself, especially in managing time and keeping his motivation consistent. That is why self-management is important for balancing academic obligations with opportunities to gain experience outside the classroom.

He also said he chose UIN Sunan Kalijaga because of its reputation as one of the leading State Islamic Higher Education Institutions (PTKIN). Studying at the university was an experience he wanted to have firsthand.

His time in college made him realize that success in one's studies is determined not only by academic achievement but also by the courage to seize opportunities and the ability to weigh each choice. He encourages students not to hesitate to try different opportunities, academic and non-academic, while keeping time management and risk in mind.

"Do what is in front of you as well as you can. If there is an opportunity, academic or non-academic, go ahead and try it, because experience matters. But everything still has to be carefully considered," he said.

For Ilmy, his journey at UIN Sunan Kalijaga is not only about earning a bachelor's degree and cum laude honors. More than that, the experience is a foundation for continuing to advance knowledge and offer solutions to problems in society.

He also voiced his hope that UIN Sunan Kalijaga will keep benefiting the wider community.

"UIN Suka for the nation, and UIN Suka going global. I hope we and our campus can keep being of benefit to the nation and the world," he said.

Ilmy's story shows how higher education can be a place for both achievement and social concern to grow. Through a combination of academic excellence, creativity, and the use of technology, UIN Sunan Kalijaga continues to encourage graduates who excel in their fields and can also make real contributions to society. (humassk)