UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon Enhances International Collaboration, Scholarship Implementation, and Internal Coordination
Cirebon, May 16, 2025 - The Director of the International Office, Lala Bumela Sudimantara, Ph.D. recently shared updates from several high-level meetings with the Global Engagement Team (GET) at UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon (UINSSC). These updates included progress on the Syekh Nurjati Global Excellence Scholarship (SN-GES) 2025 , as well as upcoming international collaborations and administrative improvements aimed at streamlining international activities.
After the briefing, the team went over the specific action points and policy updates that came up during those meetings. One of the main updates discussed was the current status of the SN-GES application system, which is integrated with PUSTIKOM but still relies on paper-based processes. “We understand the urgency of digitalizing this process to improve efficiency and transparency,” said Lala Bumela Sudimantara, Ph.D. during the briefing. It was also confirmed that the UKT display in the application will be set to Rp. 0,- both in the system interface and in the Terms of Reference (ToR), to clearly communicate financial support for international students. It was also confirmed that the living allowance for SN-GES recipients will remain at Rp. 2,500,000 per month. However, due to administrative timing, the disbursement covering December–January will be proposed in November and submitted directly to the Internal Audit Unit (SPI). Another crusial point raised was the need to improve the quality of Ma’had facilities to ensure international students feel more comfortable staying on campus. “Scholarship support must go hand-in-hand with a welcoming and supportive environment,” one participant emphasized.
The revised timeline for SN-GES 2025 was also agreed upon during the meeting. Final interviews involving department heads and relevant committees are now scheduled for early June, followed by the issuance of the Letter of Acceptance (LOA). Selected candidates will then proceed with their e-Kitas applications via the SINDI platform — a change designed to allow better planning and smoother administrative flow.
In addition to internal coordination, the International Office is preparing for two upcoming external meetings. On Tuesday, May 20, a meeting with AIA Insurance will address health insurance arrangements for international students. Then, on Thursday, May 22, UINSSC will engage in a virtual meeting with Mindanao State University (MSU) to explore potential partnerships in research, student exchange, and joint academic programs.
Administratively, several urgent actions were outlined. The team was reminded to immediately submit the activity report for the International Workshop held on April 29, along with the official request letter for position allowances, to the Finance Office. It was also stressed that a dedicated team should handle SPI-related documentation before and after events to avoid delays in fund disbursement — a challenge previously experienced that needs to be minimized moving forward.
Lastly, all required documents related to the recent workshop with Global Katalyst must reach the Finance Office by today. These include the event report, position allowance letter, Zoom service request letter, and complete documentation for the international workshop such as the Term Of Reference, RAB, invitation letters, and document of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). In parallel, promotional efforts for AsiaCALL 2025 will be intensified until the end of May, with exciting news that Prof. Syamim will join as a keynote speaker alongside other distinguished guests in Cirebon.
Author: Cyrila Zahra Tsania