Education Revolution from Cirebon: Lala Bumela Underscores Global Employability at Double Track Program and Syekh Nurjati German Centre Launch
Cirebon, August 3rd, 2025 — Cirebon witnessed a defining moment when the auditorium of Universitas Islam Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon was filled with anticipation, as if history itself was about to be rewritten. The launch of the Double Track Program and the Syekh Nurjati German Centre was not just another academic event; it was a gathering charged with vision, questions, and the weight of future possibilities. Standing before the audience, Lala Bumela, Ph.D., The Director of the International Office began his address with words that pierced through the silence. “We have conducted analyses, we have built curricula, we have celebrated innovation. But one essential element remains absent: employability,” he asserted. His statement was not merely informational; it was a provocation, a challenge that unsettled conventional thinking. Faculty, students, and guests exchanged glances, sensing that this was more than a ceremony; it was the start of a revolution in how education would be understood at UIN SSC.
The dialogue sparked by his words carried the event into deeper meaning. The Double Track Program, paired with the establishment of the German Centre, was designed not only as an academic enrichment but as a transformative bridge to the global workforce. The essence of the program lay in preparing students to navigate international labor markets with confidence, competence, and creativity. One student participant expressed what many were thinking: “This program feels like a door that was never there before. For us, it means the possibility of becoming part of Europe’s professional world while still rooted in our identity here in Cirebon.” Her voice trembled slightly with emotion, revealing both excitement and relief that education was finally being aligned with real opportunities. In that moment, the audience realized that employability was not an abstract idea but a deeply human aspiration, one that touched every dream of every student sitting in the hall.
Lala Bumela, Ph.D., did not let this reflection go unanswered. He leaned forward, speaking with a tone that balanced authority and empathy. “Education is not complete if it ends with knowledge alone. It must evolve into employability into skills, resilience, and opportunities that carry our graduates beyond borders,” he emphasized. His response was not only an affirmation but also a redefinition of the university’s role. It demonstrated leadership that listens to its students, recognizes their concerns, and transforms them into an institutional mandate. In his vision, employability was not a privilege but a right, something every student deserved to carry into the future.
As the event unfolded, his vision became even clearer. With deliberate conviction, Lala Bumela continued, “The Syekh Nurjati German Centre is more than a building or a name it is our gateway to Europe, a stage where our students will learn to compete, to collaborate, and to embody global citizenship.” His words drew nods from the audience, who could almost picture the opportunities awaiting them—internships in Berlin, research in Munich, collaborations across Europe. In presenting the program this way, he shifted the conversation from local anxieties to global horizons, from the limitations of missing curriculum elements to the promise of employability as a new standard. His dominance as a leader in this dialogue was unmistakable, but it was a dominance rooted in service to his students and the institution.
The broader impact of the launch reverberated far beyond the auditorium. For UIN SSC, the Double Track Program and the German Centre symbolized a decisive leap forward, positioning the university as a pioneer among Indonesian cyber universities. The initiative promised not only dual competencies for students but also a culture of adaptability, resilience, and ambition. Graduates of UIN SSC would no longer be confined to local job markets; they would step confidently into Europe and beyond, carrying with them both academic mastery and employable skills. The program remained inclusive, prioritizing UIN SSC students while welcoming the public, embodying a balance between institutional responsibility and societal contribution. It was both a local gift and a global gateway, an act of empowerment that united academic pursuit with human dignity.
The moral of the day was unmissable: education cannot remain trapped within the walls of theory. Lala Bumela, Ph.D., call to acknowledge employability as the “missing curriculum” was a reminder that universities must dare to confront what they have long overlooked. His vision transformed employability from a technical term into a moral imperative, a compass pointing students toward a life of purpose and opportunity. The International Office, through this program, demonstrated that its mission was not only to facilitate partnerships but also to nurture futures, weaving knowledge with action and dreams with destiny. From Cirebon to the world, the launch proclaimed a message of courage: true education is revolutionary when it equips its graduates to create, to connect, and to contribute across all borders.
Author: Muhammad Azkiya Bahtsulkhoir