Indonesia
Universitas Islam Malang has recognised doctoral students in Islamic Religious Education (PAI) program for publishing articles in Scopus-indexed journals ranked Q1 and Q2. The recognition is stipulated in Rector’s Decree No. 183/G152/U.Ak/L.16/III/2025 concerning the Obligation of Academic Publications for Lecturers and Incentives for Student Scientific Publications.
The decree states that Doctoral students of the 53rd cohort are exempt from the closed dissertation examination if they are able to publish a scientific article as the first author in a reputable international journal (indexed by Scopus with a minimum ranking of Q3 or Web of Science non-ESCI). The score for the closed dissertation examination is converted from the published article through an assessment process conducted by a panel appointed by the Postgraduate Program.
The Rector’s Decree on academic incentives also opens opportunities for students to proceed directly to the open dissertation examination.
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Two students who successfully published scientific articles in Scopus-indexed journals were Akhmad Sirojuddin, M.Pd.I., and Paisun, M.Pd. These publications served as substitutes for their dissertations and were subsequently examined during the open examination held on Monday, 7 July 2025.
Akhmad Sirojuddin was examined by Prof. Junaidi Mistar, Ph.D., with Prof. M. Mas’ud Said, M.M., Ph.D. serving as secretary. Other members of the examination board included Prof. Dr. Imam Suprayogo, Prof. Dr. H. Maskuri, M.Si., Prof. Djunaidi Ghony, M.A., and Dr. Moh. Afifulloh, M.Pd. During the examination of Paisun, there was a change in examiners, with Dr. Afifulloh, M.Pd. replaced by Dr. Abdul Jalil, M.Pd. and Prof. Dr. Nur Syam, M.Si.
Akhmad Sirojuddin defended his dissertation entitled “Integration of Higher Education Curriculum with Islamic Boarding School in the Perspective of Multicultural Islamic Education.” His research focused on Universitas Abdul Chalim and Amanatul Ummah Islamic Boarding School in Pacet, Mojokerto. The article was published in Nazhruna Journal, Volume 8, Issue 2 (2025), a journal accredited with Scopus Q1.
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Open examination session of doctoral students achieving Scopus Q1 and Q2 publications.
Group photo of Paisun with family members and the academic community of Universitas An-Nuqoyyah.
Paisun published an article entitled “The Kiai’s Leadership in Harmonising Chinese–Muslim Relations through Multicultural Islamic Education.” The article appeared in Munaddhomah: Journal of Islamic Education, Volume 6, Issue 2 (2025), a journal indexed in Scopus Q2.
Unlike conventional open examinations, this session placed strong emphasis on an in-depth review of the published articles, including explanations of the submission process, revision stages, and acceptance procedures.
Akhmad Sirojuddin and Paisun, declared the 120th and 121st doctoral graduates, respectively, both passed with an A grade (with honours). Congratulations! 🎓
