UNU Jogja–UiTM Strengthen the Halal Ecosystem through Halal Navigator System Research

Yogyakarta, Indonesia - Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja), through the UNU Jogja Halal Center, is collaborating with the Accounting Research Institution (ARI) at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, on research to develop the Halal Navigator System. Facilitated by the Nahdlatul Ulama Higher Education Association (LPTNU), the collaboration is led by Prof. Dr. Zuraidah binti Mohd Sanusi and fully funded by the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP).

Head of the UNU Jogja Halal Center, Dr. Fahmaninda Listiyani, explained that the research focuses on developing a digital platform that integrates trust and traceability (digital trust and traceability) within the halal ecosystem.

“This research proposal involves developing a digital trust and traceability platform that complements the official halal certification systems in Malaysia through JAKIM and Indonesia through BPJPH, without replacing the functions of the certification authorities,” Fahmaninda said on Thursday, October 1.

The platform is designed to strengthen governance, halal supply chain transparency, and consumer trust. The system will be developed through four main layers: regulatory information and verification, business governance, supply chain traceability, and consumer trust.

As part of the collaboration, Fahmaninda conducted a working visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from September 28 to October 1, 2026. UNU Jogja was given the opportunity to participate in the research following a direct appointment by LPTNU.

The research adopts a Living Lab approach, with the UNU Jogja Halal Center serving as the primary environment for the co-design, testing, and validation of the prototype together with stakeholders across the halal ecosystem. These stakeholders include micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), large-scale producers, suppliers, distributors, and consumers.

The research stages include mapping halal regulations and ecosystems in Malaysia and Indonesia, assessing stakeholder needs, developing the conceptual and functional framework of the system, developing a digital prototype, and conducting testing and validation with real users.

Through this collaboration, UNU Jogja is expected to strengthen its involvement in international halal research while enhancing the research capacity of its lecturers and students. The research is also expected to contribute to the development of a more transparent and trusted halal ecosystem at the regional level.

The research outputs are targeted to include several scientific articles published in journals indexed by Scopus Q1-Q4 and Web of Science. In addition, the research aims to develop a halal product navigation application that can be used by producers and consumers to access supply chain information and enhance transparency in halal businesses.

In addition to the research agenda, the visit included a meeting with Assoc. Prof. TS. Dr. Juliana Brahim and Dr. Wan Ahmad Nasroun WS from the Department of Strategic Partnership at UiTM. The meeting discussed follow-up actions for the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UiTM and UNU Jogja.

The meeting resulted in an agreement that the draft MoU would soon be submitted to UiTM for review to ensure its compliance with the applicable format and requirements. The subsequent cooperation initiative will involve the Accounting Study Program at UNU Jogja, which will collaborate with ARI and the Faculty of Accounting at UiTM.

Dr. Fahmaninda explained that an MoU with an international university serves as a strategic instrument for the internationalization of higher education by expanding academic networks, improving research quality, providing students with global experiences, and strengthening the institution’s position on the international stage.

“Although it is not legally binding, an MoU plays an important role in building trust, commitment, and a framework for cooperation that can develop into substantive and sustainable partnerships. In the context of UNU Jogja and UiTM, the MoU will facilitate collaboration in sustainable accounting, halal economy, ESG, and digital application development for the halal ecosystems of Indonesia and Malaysia,” she concluded.

Reporter: Latifah