Visitation of Assessors for the New Master’s Program in Islamic Studies at UNU Yogyakarta: A First Step Toward the Future of Islamic Studies

Yogyakarta, Indonesia — Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) welcomed assessors for the Visitation of the Opening of Master’s Program in Islamic Studies on Thursday, October 9. This visit marks the initial step in establishing the new study program, which is part of a collaborative initiative between UNU Jogja and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through the MBZ College for Future Studies.

A member of the Executive Board of Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (BPP UNU Jogja), Fahmi Akbar Idris, M.M., explained that the Master’s Program in Islamic Studies is part of the five key fields being developed by UNU Jogja under the framework of the MBZ College for Future Studies. “This program covers five major fields — digital, biotechnology, infrastructure, innovation and future studies (foresight), and Islam,” he explained.

He added that in the field of Islamic studies, UNU Jogja plans to open undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs in Interdisciplinary Islamic Studies, focusing on Islam and Future Studies.
“However, the implementation will begin with one program first — the Master’s in Islamic Studies,” he clarified. Fahmi also expressed hope that the program could officially commence in the 2026/2027 academic year.

The first assessor, Prof. Dr. Abdul Matin Bin Salman, Lc., M.Ag., welcomed the vision brought forward by UNU Jogja, emphasizing that Islamic studies remain a crucial discipline amid rapid technological advancement.
“Technology is evolving very quickly. It is possible that future generations will determine Islamic law or convey the sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) not through classical literacy, but with the help of technologies like Artificial Intelligence. This is something that deserves our collective attention,” he remarked.

He further hoped that the upcoming Master’s Program in Islamic Studies would be inclusive and open to scholars both from within and outside Indonesia. He also noted that UNU Jogja has strong potential as an institution capable of mastering both classical Islamic sciences — such as Nahwu, Shorof, Balaghoh, Ushul Fiqh, and Ushul Tafsir — and contemporary knowledge.

Meanwhile, the second assessor, Prof. Dr. Miftahul Huda, M.Ag., stated that the visitation aimed to ensure UNU Jogja’s readiness to open the new master’s program by the 2026/2027 academic year.
“We need to ensure that the curriculum, teaching staff, facilities, and the academic management units — both at the graduate school and faculty level — are well-prepared and meet the required standards,” he explained. [Latifah]