UIN Jakarta Debate Team Crowned Champion at Bawaslu National Tournament

Rectorate Building, UIN Online News — Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta claimed first place at the 5th National Inter-University Debate Competition, hosted by Indonesia’s General Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu RI) on 25–28 November 2025.

The prestigious event, themed “Law Enforcement in General Elections,” brought together dozens of teams representing 24 universities across the country and was held in North Jakarta.

UIN Jakarta delivered a compelling performance from the opening rounds, showcasing strong argumentation, sharp analysis, and a disciplined debate strategy. This consistent proficiency secured their position in the grand final, where they faced tough opponents from UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta.

The final round, centered on the motion “Separating National and Local Elections With a 2–2.5-Year Interval,” unfolded as a dynamic exchange of ideas and rigorous contestation.

Following an intensely close debate, the judging panel, which consists of 9 judges, announced UIN Jakarta as the champion with a narrow 5–4 score, placing UIN Sunan Kalijaga as runner-up.

Dean of the Faculty of Sharia and Law (FSH), Prof. Dr. Muhammad Maksum, expressed deep pride in the delegation’s accomplishment.

“Alhamdulillah, FSH once again secures first place in the National Bawaslu Legal Debate,” he stated.

Rector of UIN Jakarta, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, M.A., Ph.D., also extended his appreciation for the team’s success.

“Congratulations to the UIN Jakarta debate team for this remarkable achievement. This victory demonstrates our students’ ability to compete nationally and engage deeply with strategic issues on democracy and electoral law,” he affirmed.

Meanwhile, Bawaslu RI Commissioner Puadi explained that the debate program is designed to broaden public understanding of electoral law enforcement from Bawaslu’s institutional perspective.

“This competition serves as an outreach platform for the academic sector, covering both general supervision of elections and more specific aspects of legal enforcement,” he said.

(Nosa Idea L./Fauziah M./Zaenal M./Muhamad Arifin Ilham/Photo: Dhanis from Telusur)