UIN Public Relations – The Director General of Islamic Education at the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. H. Amin Suyitno, M.Ag., provided strategic guidance at the Forum for Bureau Chiefs and Division Heads of State-Run Religious Universities (PTKN). The Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was held under the theme “Strengthening the Governance of PTKN Through the Optimization of Human Resources and Assets”.
In his presentation, the Director General of Islamic Education emphasized that the program ma’hadization serves as the main foundation for restoring the pillars and spirit of academic integration within PTKN. According to Prof. Amin Suyitno, Ma’had al-Jamiah is not merely a provider of dormitory facilities for students, but rather a structured center for character development, governed by the principles of a pesantren and featuring an in-depth curriculum.
“Ma’had al-Jamiah serves as a meeting point for scholarly exchange between religion-based knowledge, which is core business”PTKN in the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences," said Prof. Amin Suyitno. on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
The Director General of Religious Education added that the time allocated for in-person classroom sessions is not sufficient to delve deeper into the subject matter (talaqqi), so that the existence of a representative Ma’had al-Jamiah is a key pillar of the university’s autonomy.
In addition to the “Ma’hadisasi” initiative, the Directorate General of Islamic Education has conducted a comprehensive mapping of 5 Policy Directions for Islamic Higher Education (PTKI) to strengthen governance and academic quality:
Ma’hadization: To optimize Ma’had al-Jamiah so that it is fully managed—from governance and faculty to student guidance and funding mechanisms—rather than merely serving as student housing.
Double Degree Program: Offers dual-degree programs for undergraduate students at PTKI in collaboration with leading partner universities, both domestically and internationally. This policy aims to enhance students’ ability to integrate general and Islamic studies and to provide graduates with the added value of a dual degree.
Fast Track Program: An educational acceleration program for PTKI students to complete their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 5 years by integrating their bachelor’s thesis into the foundation of their master’s thesis.
Off-Campus Study Programs (PSDKU): The establishment of a PSDKU at a PTKI campus requires that the institution have its own lecture building and that the parent academic program be accredited with an “Excellent” (A) rating.
Reformulation of Study Program Development: Revitalizing academic programs to ensure they remain relevant in addressing the challenges of the times through three areas of focus: academic, professional, and vocational programs.
Regarding the implementation of the program double degree, Prof. Amin Suyitno explained that this bold step effectively addresses public skepticism regarding students’ mastery of both general and religious studies. Through strategic partnerships between universities, PTKI students have the option to take courses at leading public universities, while also deepening their religious understanding at PTKN.
Furthermore, the Director General of Islamic Education encouraged PTKNs to make optimal use of their Public Service Agency (BLU) status to support the scheme double degree and international cooperation, including online course opportunities (online class) which partners with renowned foreign universities such as Al-Azhar University in Cairo.
Prof. Amin Suyitno also urged all leaders and administrative staff at PTKN to reduce ceremonial activities that lack concrete follow-up actions. All staff members are asked to focus on the implementation of impact-based programs (impactful) that can be directly felt by the academic community and the general public.
The post Director General of Islamic Education Emphasizes the Importance of Ma’hadization and Accelerating Flagship Programs to Strengthen Governance at Islamic Higher Education Institutions (PTKN) first appeared on Spirituality, Intellectuality, Professionalism.
