Indonesia
State Islamic Institute (IAIN) Salatiga conducted academic benchmarking at Unisma’s Postgraduate Program to inform its own academic development. Prof. Dr. Phil. Asfa Widiyanto, M.Ag., MA, Postgraduate Director of IAIN Salatiga, led a delegation warmly welcomed on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.
The IAIN Salatiga delegation, comprising 20 members including the Director, study program heads, program secretaries, faculty, and administrative staff, visited Unisma’s Postgraduate Program to exchange knowledge on program management, with particular focus on Multicultural Islamic Education Doctoral Program, Master’s in Islamic Religious Education, and Master’s in Islamic Family Law.
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Unisma’s Postgraduate Program leadership welcomed the IAIN Salatiga delegation with genuine enthusiasm, including Prof. M. Mas’ud Said, MM., PhD, Dr. Nur Fajar Arief, M.Pd, Dr. Rulam Ahmadi, and every study program head.
Postgraduate Director Prof. M. Mas’ud Said, MM., PhD, welcomed the opportunity for mutual learning. The Flinders University alumnus introduced the delegation to Unisma Postgraduate Program’s institutional structure and innovations, while commending IAIN Salatiga’s own achievement: its “Indonesian Journal on Islam and Moslem Societies,” now indexed at Q1 by Scopus.
Prof. M. Mas’ud Said, MM., PhD, receives a memento from Prof. Dr. Phil. Asfa Widiyanto, M.Ag., MA, accompanied by their respective deputy directors
Following introductory remarks, both sides moved forward with a cooperation agreement aimed at mutual strengthening. Prof. Mas’ud noted that Indonesia’s concept of silaturahim, or maintaining kinship ties, offers a fitting alternative to the Western notion that “we are living in the era of collaboration and cooperation.” This spirit of silaturahim and cooperation will connect three study programs in particular: Master’s in Islamic Religious Education, Master’s in Islamic Family Law, and Multicultural Islamic Education Doctoral Program, with future plans to extend collaboration between English Language Education and IAIN Salatiga’s English Teaching program as well.
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Dr. Nur Fajar Arief, Deputy Director overseeing academic affairs, led a sharing session focused on strengthening academic quality, covering both graduate outcomes and academic service delivery for students.
Prof. Djunaidi Ghony presented an overview of the curriculum currently implemented in Unisma’s PAI Doctoral Program, followed by Dr. Afifulloh, who oversees both Master’s in Islamic Religious Education and Master’s in Islamic Family Law programs simultaneously.
Discussion and Q&A session on curriculum implementation
The sharing session unfolded in a warm, collaborative atmosphere, marked by genuine dialogue aimed at sharpening curriculum development on both sides. (AL/PPS)
