Surakarta, November 1, 2025 - Faculty of Ushuluddin and Adab UIN Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin Banten conducted Benchmarking to UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta on October 29 - 31, 2025. Participants were 29 people consisting of the Dean, Deputy Dean, Head and Secretary of the Study Program, Head of TU, Lecturers and Education Personnel. each divided into two Faculties, some to the Faculty of Ushuluddin and Adab and some to the Faculty of Adab and Language UIN Raden Mas Said UIN Surakarta.
The atmosphere of warmth and kinship was felt since the group Faculty of Ushuluddin and Adab (FUDA) Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin State Islamic University (UIN SMH) Banten arrives on campus UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta. This visit is part of a series of activities to strengthen cooperation between state Islamic universities in the academic field, curriculum development, and institutional quality improvement.
The arrival of the FUDA UIN SMH Banten group was welcomed directly by Dean of Faculty of Adab and Language UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta, along with faculty leaders, including Vice Dean II, Vice Dean III, Secretary of the Study Program, and representatives of educational staff. The reception took place in the main meeting room of the Faculty of Adab and Language, colored by a warm atmosphere and a sense of brotherhood between the academic communities of the two institutions.
The Meaning of Silaturahim and Shared Learning
In his opening remarks, Dean of the Faculty of Ushuluddin and Adab UIN SMH Banten expressed gratitude for the opportunity to stay in touch and exchange experiences directly.
“We are very grateful to be able to stay in touch with the Faculty of Adab and Language of UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta. In our view, the most important discipline in academic life is learning and teaching. Therefore, on this occasion we share experiences, knowledge, and the spirit of service,” he said warmly.
He also introduced the faculty leaders who were also present in the group and emphasized the commitment to expand the network of cooperation between faculties, especially in the development of the faculty. MoA (Memorandum of Agreement) and programs visiting lecturer between lecturers. “We hope this cooperation does not stop at the signing, but is continued in the form of concrete actions that benefit students, lecturers, and education personnel on both sides,” he added.
The warmth of the meeting was felt even more when the FUDA group was welcomed with a local cultural performance entitled Wayang Semar Boyong. Through his story, the puppeteer conveys a deep message that true tranquility does not mean a life without problems, but rather the ability to maintain determination in the face of various tests. The message seems to reflect the philosophy of academic life that always demands patience, perseverance, and togetherness in achieving common goals.
Faculty of Adab and Languages: Growing, Achieving, and Open to Collaboration
Meanwhile, Dean of Faculty of Adab and Language UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta in his speech expressed his appreciation for the visit from UIN SMH Banten. He then introduced his faculty leaders and gave a comprehensive overview of the academic structure and excellent programs of the faculty he leads.
“Our faculty has various study programs, ranging from Indonesian Language Education, Tadris English, Arabic, to religious study programs. We continue to strive to strengthen academic quality, and currently two study programs have achieved excellent accreditation, while other programs are in the process of assessment. We hope that cooperation with UIN SMH Banten can accelerate quality improvement efforts in both institutions,” he explained.
On this occasion, he also shared the history of the faculty's development, including the transformation of several study programs that were originally under the Faculty of Tarbiyah. “The language education study program was previously in the Faculty of Tarbiyah, while the Faculty of Adab and Language has now developed into a big house for the study of language, literature, and culture,” he added.
The building now used as the Faculty of Adab and Languages was once a postgraduate complex. Now, with a new spirit, the faculty is transforming into a dynamic center for the development of language and culture. In addition, the faculty is also preparing international accreditation, strengthening the implementation of Outcome Based Education (OBE), and continue to innovate in learning methods.
One of the pride of this faculty is its success in achieving the following MURI Record as a university with most foreign students in Indonesia, We are proud to be home to students from all over the world, with students coming from countries such as Pakistan, Nigeria, and a number of other Asian and African countries. “We are proud to be home to students from all over the world. This confirms the commitment of UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta as an open and global-minded campus,” he said proudly.
He also added that the program visiting lecturer does not have to be done offline. “We can optimize online learning to expand the reach. It is even possible to cross study programs. We want to build a flexible and sustainable collaboration,” he said.
MoA Signing and Implementation of Real Cooperation
After the welcome session, the event continued with MoA signing between the Faculty of Ushuluddin and Adab UIN SMH Banten and the Faculty of Adab and Language UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta. The signing symbolizes a joint commitment in establishing academic collaboration, research, community service, and strengthening institutional quality.
After the signing of the MoA, the activities continued with group photo session and implementation visiting lecturer program. Several FUDA UIN SMH Banten lecturers had the opportunity to directly teach in the classes of students of the Faculty of Adab and Language, sharing scientific perspectives and teaching experiences in the fields of Islamic science and linguistics.
On the other hand, education personnel from the Faculty of Ushuluddin and Adab also carry out benchmarking with the academic community of the Faculty of Adab and Language. This activity includes in-depth discussions related to academic service systems, administrative governance, and language laboratory management. The exchange of ideas and good practices between the two faculties is a concrete step to strengthen the quality of services and the professionalism of education personnel.
Shared Hope for the Future
Closing the series of activities, both parties expressed the hope that this visit would not only be a momentary gathering, but the beginning of a sustainable collaboration.
“We hope that this visit can continue to be strengthened and become a real implementation of the agreed cooperation. Synergy between faculties will be very helpful in improving the quality, accreditation, and academic reputation of us together,” said the Dean of FUDA UIN SMH Banten.
The same thing was conveyed by the Dean of the Faculty of Adab and Language UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta who welcomed the concrete steps.
“We are a big family of UINs in Indonesia. By sharing, collaborating, and supporting each other, we can grow together into a faculty that is superior and globally competitive,” he said.
The activity ended with hospitality, exchange of souvenirs, and a commitment to follow up the results of the meeting in the form of joint activities in the future, such as collaborative research, faculty exchanges, curriculum development, and cross-campus academic activities.
This visit not only strengthens institutional relationships, but also reinforces the spirit of collaboration between faculties in state Islamic universities to continue to develop, excel, and contribute to the advancement of Islamic education in Indonesia.
Author: Faisal
