UNU Jogja Welcomes Benchmarking Visit from STIT Darul Islah Tulang Bawang to Strengthen Higher Education Governance and Development

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) welcomed a benchmarking visit from Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Tarbiyah (STIT) Darul Islah Tulang Bawang, Lampung, at The Forum, 3rd Floor of UNU Jogja on Wednesday, July 29. The visit served as an opportunity to strengthen institutional ties while exchanging best practices in higher education governance, academic development, and human resource capacity building among Nahdlatul Ulama higher education institutions.

The delegation from STIT Darul Islah Tulang Bawang was led by its Chairman, Dr. Thohir Muntaha, S.Pd., M.Pd.I., accompanied by members of the institution's leadership, including the Vice Chairpersons, the Heads of the Islamic Education (PAI) and Islamic Education Management (MPI) Study Programs, and representatives from the Research and Community Service Unit (UP2M). The delegation was welcomed by Dr. Abdul Ghoffar, M.B.A., Vice Rector for Pesantren Affairs and Social Transformation at UNU Jogja, along with the University's leadership team.

In his remarks, Dr. Thohir Muntaha expressed his appreciation for the remarkable growth of UNU Jogja, noting that the University has achieved significant progress despite being a relatively young institution.

"UNU Jogja is still a very young Nahdlatul Ulama university, yet it has grown rapidly and made impressive progress. Its development has become an inspiration for us as we continue to strengthen our own institution," he said.

According to Thohir, higher education institutions under the Nahdlatul Ulama umbrella carry an important responsibility to continue the legacy of NU scholars in nurturing future generations of national leaders through education.

He explained that NU universities are entrusted with three primary missions: strengthening the spirit of wathaniyah through national commitment and civic responsibility, preserving the values of diniyah by upholding the traditions of Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah An-Nahdliyah, and advancing tarbiyah by delivering high-quality education.

"We hope to return home from UNU Jogja with valuable lessons, blessings, renewed enthusiasm, and greater motivation to continue learning and developing our institution," he added.

A Young University Driven by Collaboration

Meanwhile, Dr. Abdul Ghoffar, Vice Rector for Pesantren Affairs and Social Transformation at UNU Jogja, stated that since its establishment, UNU Jogja has been built upon a strong commitment to creating a higher education institution that is adaptive, collaborative, and responsive to contemporary challenges.

According to him, one of UNU Jogja's greatest strengths lies in its young and dynamic academic community, whose members are eager to learn, collaborate, and develop innovative solutions.

"UNU Jogja was founded with a strong vision. We are home to many talented young people who move quickly, learn from one another, and actively collaborate with various partners in advancing education and innovation," he said.

Abdul Ghoffar further explained that UNU Jogja welcomes academics from diverse regions and graduates of international universities to contribute to the University's development. This diversity enriches academic perspectives and encourages the emergence of fresh ideas and innovations.

He also noted that Yogyakarta's higher education ecosystem—home to more than 125 universities and colleges—presents both challenges and opportunities for institutions to continuously innovate.

"Competition among universities in Yogyakarta is highly dynamic. Therefore, every institution must offer meaningful innovations that create added value while generating ideas that benefit society," he remarked.

According to Abdul Ghoffar, UNU Jogja is committed to fostering an ecosystem that encourages students to develop innovative products capable of addressing real societal challenges. In addition to strengthening academic competencies, students are equipped with various skills, including foreign language proficiency, access to scholarship networks for further study, and the motivation to dream big while preparing themselves to become future leaders.

"A university is a place where dreams are built. We want our students to develop global competencies, master foreign languages, seize opportunities for further education, and at the same time remain firmly rooted in the values of Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah An-Nahdliyah, which define UNU Jogja's identity," he emphasized.

During the benchmarking visit, both institutions also discussed the development of academic programs, institutional governance, the strengthening of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, and opportunities for collaboration in education, research, and community service.

As a university in Yogyakarta committed to fostering collaboration and innovation, UNU Jogja hopes that this benchmarking visit will strengthen partnerships among Nahdlatul Ulama higher education institutions in developing universities that are competitive, adaptive, and academically excellent while remaining firmly grounded in Islamic and national values. [Latifah]