UNU Jogja – UIN Syekh Wasil Kediri Explore Collaboration, from Joint Research to Sakinah Family Programs

Yogyakarta, Indonesia - Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) is exploring potential collaboration with Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Syekh Wasil Kediri. Potential areas of cooperation range from lecturer exchanges and joint research to support for sakinah family programs, as part of efforts to strengthen the three pillars of higher education.

The potential areas of collaboration were discussed during a visit by the Faculty of Shariah of UIN Syekh Wasil Kediri to UNU Jogja’s Integrated Campus on Monday (September 5, 2026). The delegation, comprising around 25 people, was led by Dean of the Faculty of Shariah Zayad Abd. Rahman, together with heads of study programs and staff.

The UNU Jogja delegation warmly welcomed the guests, including Vice Rector for Islamic Boarding School Affairs Abdul Ghofar, Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies (FDI) Hamdi Ahmad, several FDI and Interdisciplinary Islamic Studies (SII) lecturers, and Director of the Center for Population Studies and Family Welfare (Pusdeka) Rindang Farihah.

During the visit, Dean of the Faculty of Shariah at UIN Syekh Wasil Kediri, Zayad Abd. Rahman, expressed his pleasure at being able to visit UNU Jogja in person and gain a closer look at the university.

“Our visit is intended for three purposes: silaturahmi, silaturahmi ruhamah (social and humanitarian ties), and silatur ruhaniah (spiritual ties). We want to align our thoughts and feelings so that we can collaborate,” he said.

He briefly explained the history of UIN Syekh Wasil Kediri, which was pioneered in the 1960s. The university takes its name from a Persian scholar who spread Islam in Kediri, East Java, during the reign of King Jayabaya in the 12th century.

He said he had heard a great deal about UNU Jogja’s work and development, particularly as a Nahdliyin university focused on preparing its graduates to enter the professional world.

“Initially, we intended simply to share knowledge about Islamic studies. But after coming here, we saw many academic elements on display, and we found that UNU Jogja has integrated itself with the industrial world,” he said.

He said a number of collaborations in the three pillars of higher education could be established between the Faculty of Shariah at UIN Syekh Wasil and FDI UNU Jogja, including lecturer exchanges and collaborative research in Islamic studies. In community engagement, Sakinah Corner at UIN Syekh Wasil could work in synergy with Pusdeka UNU Jogja, which has conducted technical training for marriage guidance facilitators.

Vice Rector for Islamic Boarding School Affairs Abdul Ghofar welcomed the presence of the UIN Syekh Wasil Kediri Faculty of Shariah delegation as part of efforts to expand higher education networks. Such efforts are important as higher education institutions are currently facing a number of serious challenges, including governance and the rapid development of artificial intelligence.

“These challenges must become shared issues going forward. Universities can learn from one another. With UIN Syekh Wasil Kediri, for example, we can learn about the strength of local contexts. This means there is something new being developed by colleagues in different regions. It can inspire better learning and the development of new approaches,” he said.

Dean of FDI UNU Jogja Hamdi Ahmad emphasized that inter-faculty collaboration would strengthen the implementation of the three pillars of higher education at both institutions. In addition to the S1 Interdisciplinary Islamic Studies program, which has been running since UNU Jogja was established in 2017, FDI has also secured approval to open a master’s program in Islamic Studies.

“The focus of the master’s program is on contemporary ijtihad and future studies, which are closely related to Shariah studies. This gives us room to collaborate in these areas,” he said.

Vice Dean of FDI Muhammad Rofiqi added that FDI UNU Jogja has also published the Journal of Dirasah Islamiyah (JODI), which features scholarly works on Islamic themes, including Shariah studies. Academics from UIN Syekh Wasil Kediri could contribute articles to the academic journal.

Meanwhile, Head of Pusdeka UNU Jogja Rindang Farihah said the center was ready to support UIN Syekh Wasil Kediri in its sakinah family programs. The support could take the form of training to prepare counselors and marriage guidance facilitators for prospective couples.

This is in line with UNU Jogja’s status as the first university authorized by the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) to organize technical training for such facilitators. UNU Jogja currently has three national instructors who provide training through the program.

“Participants in the technical training organized by UNU Jogja come from a broader range of backgrounds. They are not limited to marriage registrars; lecturers can also participate. During the training, participants receive materials on sakinah families and a certificate from Kemenag as facilitators,” she said.

Before the meeting and discussion on potential collaboration, the UIN Syekh Wasil Kediri delegation took part in a campus tour.

“It doesn’t look like an NU university at all. The design combines something old, a legacy, with something new—industrial and digital. Everything is brought together in one place. It’s a mix of everything, but wow,” said Dean of the Faculty of Shariah Zayad Abd. Rahman, reflecting on his impression of the UNU Jogja campus. 

Reporter : Arif