Vice Rector I Dr. Ayus Ahmad Yusuf, Representing Rector Prof. Dr. Aan Jaelani, Officiates the Inauguration of International Scholarship Recipients under the 2025 Syekh Nurjati Global E-Scholarship (SN-GES) at UIN SSC
Cirebon, September, 11th 2025 — the International Office and Partnership of Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon, under the direction of Lala Bumela, Ph.D., hosted the official inauguration of the 2025 Syekh Nurjati Global E-Scholarship (SN-GES) cohort. The ceremony was formally opened by Dr. H. Ayus Ahmad Yusuf, S.E., M.Si., Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, who represented the Rector, Prof. Dr. H. Aan Jaelani, M.Ag., due to the Rector’s prior institutional obligations. Held in the Grand Auditorium of UIN SSC, the event gathered senior university leadership, faculty deans, department heads, and the International Office’s Global Engagement Team. Among those present were Prof. Dr. Hajam, M.Ag. (Vice Rector III), Dr. H. Saifuddin, M.Ag. (Dean, Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training), Dr. H. Didi Sukardi, S.H., M.Ag. (Dean, Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business), Dr. Anwar Sanusi, M.Ag. (Dean, Faculty of Ushuluddin and Adab), Dr. Naila Farah, M.Ag. (Dean, Faculty of Dakwah and Islamic Communication), and Dr. Evi Roviati, S.Si., M.Pd. (Head, Tadris Biologi Program). They were joined by department leaders such as Mohamad Rana, M.H.I. (Head, State Law), Achmad Otong Busthomi, Lc., M.Ag. (Head, Sharia Economics), Yuyun Maryuningsih, M.Pd. (Secretary, Tadris Biologi), and Hendi Hidayat, M.Pd. (Secretary, Tadris English Teacher Training). The event was supported by the International Office core team, including Ivo Yanuar Dinasta, S.S., M.Appling. (Secretary), Gina Amalia Sholihah, S.Sos. (Staff), and the Global Engagement Team. The 2025 SN-GES cohort comprises 12 international students selected from 30 applicants across five countries, with an acceptance rate of only 40 percent. Of these, eight students have arrived in Cirebon, including Arif Yeekajik (Thailand, State Law), Babou Seck (Senegal, Sharia Economics), Hamdi Mujeb Thabet Sharaf (Yemen, Sharia Economics), Jadene Querod Zainal, Nadja Querod Cabuayo, and Paojia Cabuayo Sucatan (Philippines, English Teacher Training), Maja Asleah Lindongoan Salisipan (Philippines, Biology Teacher Training), and Tasneem Wado (Thailand, Qur’anic Studies and Exegesis). Four additional awardees from Nigeria were unable to travel due to political instability and visa delays, but they participated virtually through live-streamed sessions coordinated by the International Office.
In his opening remarks, Dr. H. Ayus Ahmad Yusuf underscored that the Syekh Nurjati Global E-Scholarship (SN-GES) is a tangible manifestation of UIN SSC’s institutional commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education. He emphasized that the program does not merely provide access to higher education but ensures that international students are integrated into a rigorous academic environment supported by digital infrastructure, faculty mentorship, and institutional oversight. By adopting a cyber-university model, UIN SSC has established a system that expands educational opportunities while maintaining academic quality across diverse cultural and geographic backgrounds.
As conveyed on behalf of Rector Prof. Dr. H. Aan Jaelani, the program is built on three key directives: first, the expectation that international students adapt to the cyber-learning ecosystem, including the learning management system and synchronous class participation; second, the mandatory participation in Bahasa Indonesia for Foreign Learners (BIPA) courses, enabling deeper cultural immersion and cross-cultural communication; and third, strict compliance with Indonesian laws, academic regulations, and religious norms as an essential foundation for academic and social life at UIN SSC. These directives are codified in the SN-GES Student Handbook, ensuring accountability and clarity of expectations.
By aligning the scholarship structure with SDG 4, UIN SSC seeks to demonstrate that quality education is not limited by geography or economic status. The rigorous selection process—requiring verified transcripts, language assessments, and personal statements reviewed by faculty committees—ensures that only the most qualified applicants are awarded scholarships. This merit-based approach guarantees that recipients represent a standard of academic excellence, reinforcing the idea that inclusive education must also be synonymous with quality assurance.
Furthermore, the SN-GES program promotes equity and inclusivity by welcoming students from diverse socio-economic and cultural contexts. The presence of scholars from Thailand, Senegal, Yemen, the Philippines, and Nigeria reflects a deliberate effort to create a multicultural learning community where dialogue and collaboration enrich academic experiences. This diversity, Dr. Ayus noted, not only benefits the international students but also elevates the perspectives of local students and faculty, fostering an environment of global citizenship and mutual understanding, which are central to SDG 4.
Concluding his address, Dr. Ayus affirmed that the SN-GES initiative must be seen as a strategic investment in human capital and global partnerships rather than a symbolic gesture. By holding international scholars to the same academic standards as domestic students, UIN SSC ensures that the scholarship contributes directly to sustainable academic outcomes. He expressed confidence that, under the administrative leadership of Lala Bumela, Ph.D., and the collaborative efforts of the Global Engagement Team, the 2025 SN-GES cohort will not only complete their studies successfully but also embody the principles of Quality Education as ambassadors of peace, knowledge, and intercultural dialogue on the global stage.
Author: Muhammad Azkiya Bahtsulkhoir