Indonesia
Malang – Two students from the Doctoral Program (S3) in Multicultural Islamic Religious Education returned for their open examination on Thursday (16/07), following their peers who had sat the same examination three days prior. The open examination, which simultaneously served as a doctoral promotion, was held for candidates Suherdiyanto and Sudirmansyah.
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An external examiner was brought in for this doctoral examination: Dr. Basuki Wibowo, M.Pd., from Universitas PGRI Pontianak in keeping with the Pontianak-based locus of the dissertations being examined.
The full panel comprised seven examiners, chaired by UNISMA Rector Prof. Drs. H. Junaidi Mistar, M.Pd., Ph.D., with Postgraduate Program Director Prof. Mas’ud Said, MM., Ph.D. serving as examination secretary. The remaining four examiners were Prof. Dr. Imam Suprayogo, Prof. Dr. Maskuri, M.Si., Dr. Moh. Afifulloh, M.Pd., and Dr. Abdul Jalil, M.Pd.
Suherdiyanto presented a dissertation titled “Multicultural Culture as a Foundation for Creating Harmonious Life from the Perspective of Multicultural Islamic Education at Universitas Persatuan Guru Republik Indonesia Pontianak.”
Sudirmansyah defended a dissertation titled “The Harmony-Conscious Village as a Basis for the Development of Multicultural Islamic Religious Education in Sungai Paduan Village, Teluk Batang, North Kayong.”
Suherdiyanto, a student from Pontianak, answers questions about his dissertation
Sudirmansyah, a student in a study group at Pontiana, received his official certificate of passing the open examination
In his closing reflections, Suherdiyanto admitted that he never imagined he would reach the level of doctoral education. Coming from a family without a higher education background made this achievement nothing short of extraordinary for him.
“We wish to express our deepest gratitude to our mother, who completed only primary school,” he said with evident emotion.
Sudirmansyah humbly acknowledged that this achievement was, above all, by the grace of Allah. “So much of it comes from beyond ourselves from the prayers of our parents, our wives, and our children. Education here is not merely a transfer of knowledge; it builds a spiritual and soulful connection,” he reflected.
“Some time ago, I dreamed of meeting Prof. Yaqub Cikusin, our promotor. In the dream, he was moved to tears looking at me. And I was wearing the very clothes I am wearing today,” he recounted, visibly touched.
Suherdiyanto graduated with Cum Laude honours, while Sudirmansyah graduated with a Sangat Memuaskan (Distinction) predicate. Congratulations to both. May the knowledge gained at UNISMA continue to be implemented in Pontianak, particularly within each of their respective professional environments. (AL/PPS)
