Ushuluddin Goes International 2026: UIN Jakarta Launches a Transnational Civic Mission and Cultural Diplomacy Campaign to Thailand
JAKARTA, UIN Online News – In an elite policy push to scale up its global academic footprint, the Faculty of Ushuluddin at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta officially executed the departure of 23 student delegates under the premier Ushuluddin Goes International (UGI) 2026 banner. Confirmed through a high-profile send-off ceremony on Monday, June 29, 2026, the diplomatic cohort is scheduled to mount a comprehensive transnational civic mission, cultural exchange operations, and international academic defenses across Thailand from July 5 to July 26, 2026.
The executive send-off drew high-ranking state and institutional figures, including UIN Jakarta's Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Ali Munhanif, Ph.D., and the Dean of the Faculty of Ushuluddin, Professor Ismatu Ropi, Ph.D. Reflecting the national security and foreign policy weight of the deployment, the assembly was heavily attended by the Acting Deputy of Youth Services at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Dr. Hendro Wicaksono, alongside the Director of Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ani Nigeriawati, M.A.
Addressing the cohort, Vice Rector Ali Munhanif highly lauded the UGI 2026 blueprint as a masterstroke for the university’s internationalization goals. He emphasized that the field deployment functions as a critical training ground to sharpen strategic leadership, expand cross-border corporate intelligence, and fortify student character.
"You are entering the foreign theater as the premium representations of UIN Jakarta and the Republic of Indonesia," Munhanif directed. "You must project the sophisticated values of moderate Islam, absolute professionalism, and academic hunger. Return home with bulletproof field experience and global networks that will benefit both our campus and the public."
Hailing the breakthrough, Dean Ismatu Ropi noted that UGI stands as the first-ever international program born directly out of the Faculty of Ushuluddin’s student body. The Professor of Comparative Religion asserted that the initiative shatters traditional domestic boundaries, setting a bold precedent for continuous institutional internationalization. He expects the cohort to aggressively introduce Indonesia’s inclusive, peaceful, and pluralistic Islamic identity to the global public square.
During a specialized briefing session, the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Director of Public Diplomacy, Ani Nigeriawati, reminded the delegates of the tactical demands of public diplomacy. She stressed that international integration requires a deep understanding of national identity and strategic competence.
"Beyond your academic objectives, you are functioning as active Indonesian cultural ambassadors," Nigeriawati observed. "You must effectively articulate Indonesia’s diverse cultural wealth, systematic tolerance, and peaceful Islamic architecture to the international community."
Reinforcing this vision, Youth Ministry official Hendro Wicaksono emphasized that global communication, critical thinking, and cross-border collaboration are non-negotiable tools for the next generation of Indonesian leaders facing a highly competitive global market.
Detailing the operational roadmap, UGI 2026 Project Manager Zahra Mustafida reported that the 23-student delegation comprises 20 elite minds from the Faculty of Ushuluddin and three selected cross-disciplinary students. The tactical mission features a intensive grassroots civic mission deployed in Pattani, Southern Thailand, followed by high-level academic defenses at Krirk University in Bangkok.
Mustafida revealed that UGI 2026 was engineered by the Faculty's Student Executive Council (DEMA) under the leadership of M. Zainin Nufus.
"The ultimate metric of this program is not administrative completion, but the sustainable value and impact we leave behind," Mustafida concluded. "Our blueprint, 'The Journey Begins,' is a structural commitment to permanently position our faculty on the global stage."
(Zaenal/Arifin)