UIN Jakarta Commemorates 118th National Awakening Day, Pushing for Global Competitiveness and Academic Integration
Student Center Field, UIN Online – UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta held a formal ceremony to commemorate the 118th National Awakening Day (Harkitnas) 2026. Centered around the theme "Protecting the Nation’s Youth for State Sovereignty," the ceremony took place at the Student Center field on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
Led directly by the Rector of UIN Jakarta, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, the event was attended by the university’s executive board. This included the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Tholabi, the Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Prof. Ali Munhanif, and the Vice Rector for Cooperation, Din Wahid, Ph.D. Also in attendance were the Dean of Medicine, Dr. Achmad Zaki, the Dean of FDIKOM, Prof. Dr. Gun Gun Heryanto, the Dean of FITK, Prof. Siti Nurul Azkiyah, along with faculty members, lecturers, and administrative staff.
The Rector of UIN Jakarta, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, invited the entire academic community to reflect on the historical essence of the national awakening and connect it to the contemporary responsibilities of higher education institutions. He asserted that the spirit of past struggles must be translated into modern achievements and concrete global contributions.
"If we look back at the history of our national awakening, it was driven by a foundational consciousness of patriotism and liberation from colonial rule. Therefore, in our modern university context, this awakening must manifest as building academic excellence, global competitiveness, and institutional impact. This is why we must continuously upgrade our research and academic culture," the Rector emphasized.
Furthermore, he stressed the importance of consistency in executing UIN Jakarta's core institutional identity, which is the integration of modern science and Islamic values. According to him, this principle is not just a slogan, but the primary baseline to elevate the university's international reputation.
"We must ensure that our signature trait, the harmonious integration of Islam and science, is fully realized, practiced, and impactful. Consequently, our global reputation must be continuously enhanced so that our breakthroughs are recognized and acknowledged worldwide," he added.
Sharing a analytical perspective, the Dean of the Faculty of Dakwah and Communication Studies (FDIKOM), Prof. Dr. Gun Gun Heryanto, highlighted that the national awakening must be understood as a fundamental process of transformation rooted in collective intellectual awareness.
"The national awakening was a progressive movement initiated from a baseline consciousness to change fundamental aspects of society, specifically by igniting a passion for nationwide solidarity. This historical process was not merely a symbolic expression, rather, it was a structured effort to build a collective consciousness, and all sustainable consciousness begins with critical thinking," he remarked.
He added that no historical awakening has ever occurred without being preceded by robust intellectual discourse. Therefore, the values and spirit of the nation's founding fathers must be extracted and applied contextually to modern challenges.
"There is no foundation for a national awakening that does not originate from ideas. Moving forward, the strategic lessons from our past freedom fighters must be carried over into how we operate. As vital citizens of this nation, we must maintain an active awareness in our thinking, our movements, and our social responsibility to benefit others through meaningful social movements. Whether alternative, redemptive, reformative, or revolutionary, these social movements must adapt to the context, time, and dynamics of the current era," he explained.
According to him, every member of the academic community holds a unique role based on their respective capacity and profession to contribute to the nation. The ultimate key lies in concrete action, unity, and a shared goal to strengthen the country's sovereignty.
"One thing is certain, as elements of this nation, we must take definitive action to rise, move forward, and offer tangible contributions. This starts with individual awareness, builds into institutional collectivity, and grows into mutual empowerment to solidify a stronger Indonesia," he concluded.
National Awakening Day is commemorated every May 20 in Indonesia to mark the founding of Budi Utomo in 1908, the country's first modern political and social organization. This historical milestone represents the dawn of organized national consciousness against foreign occupation across the Indonesian archipelago.
(Nosa/Zaenal/Arifin)