UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon’s Road to Global University Excellence: The Foundations of Research and Graduate Employability
Cirebon, May 21, 2025 — The 2025 Leadership Summit (Rakerpim) at UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon (UIN SSC) convened top university officials and strategic leaders, including Amien Suyitno, Director General of Islamic Education at the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia; Prof. Dr. Aan Jaelani, M.Ag, Rector of UIN SSC; and Lala Bumela, Ph.D., Head of the International Office and Partnership, who was the prominent figure throughout the event. Held two months after the official inauguration of the university’s new leadership, this summit serves as an integral part of UIN SSC’s annual leadership consolidation and strategic planning.
This distinguished gathering focused on two primary objectives: reviewing the university’s achievements and performance in 2025, and formulating comprehensive plans for programs and budgets for 2026. The event embraced the theme “From Good Governance to World Class University: Strengthening BLU and Digital Ecosystem for Islamic Cyber Education,” reflecting UIN SSC’s commitment to advancing governance excellence, digital innovation, and the development of Islamic cyber education.
Significantly, the summit took place just two days after UIN SSC proudly earned an “Excellent” (Unggul) accreditation rating from BAN-PT, marking a momentous milestone ahead of the university’s first anniversary. This accreditation not only recognizes the university’s quality and continuous improvement but also serves as a catalyst to pursue even greater achievements.
During the strategic sessions, Lala Bumela Sudimantara, Ph.D. emphasized two essential criteria for UIN SSC’s vision to become a world-class university: active and sustained research engagement and high graduate employability. “Global recognition demands universities to be hubs of innovation through impactful research that enriches academic discourse and benefits society. Equally, our graduates must be well-prepared to excel in competitive international job markets,” he asserted.
The presence of Amien Suyitno further underscored the event’s significance. He reflected on his foundational role in transforming UIN SSC from IAIN, describing the Digital Multimedia University (DMU) vision as a forward-looking evolution aimed at fostering impactful collaboration and a joyful learning environment where technology enhances creativity rather than limits it.
Under the stewardship of Rector Prof. Dr. Aan Jaelani, UIN SSC continues to consolidate its position as Indonesia’s premier digital Islamic university, advancing concrete initiatives such as market-responsive university enterprises and expanding global academic partnerships. The International Office and Partnership, led by Lala Bumela Sudimantara, Ph.D., has played a pivotal role in developing international collaborations and academic mobility programs designed to enrich cultural experiences, boost employability, and elevate institutional rankings.
To ensure alignment between vision and implementation, the summit established five strategic commissions—Academic Affairs, Research, Technology, Human Resources, and Partnerships & BLU—with the International Office committed to expanding bilateral collaborations focused on joint research, student entrepreneurship, and innovations in digital pedagogy. The 2025 Leadership Summit marked a decisive step forward for UIN SSC’s internationalization efforts, with Lala Bumela Sudimantara, Ph.D. emphasizing that the future of Islamic higher education depends on meaningful global engagement while steadfastly upholding foundational values, positioning UIN SSC to lead as a pioneering, digitally connected campus advancing civilization.
Author: Muhammad Azkiya Bahtsulkhoir