The University of the Philippines (UP), through the UP Institute of Islamic Studies (UP IIS), has formalized a five-year academic partnership with Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Professor Kiai Haji Saifuddin Zuhri Purwokerto (UIN SAIZU) in Indonesia through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The collaboration traces its beginnings to June 3, 2026, when Prof. Julkipli M. Wadi, Dean of the UP Institute of Islamic Studies, was invited by UIN SAIZU to participate in an initial signing ceremony hosted by the university in Purwokerto, Central Java, Indonesia. This engagement paved the way for the formal execution of the MOU, which was subsequently signed by UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II and UIN SAIZU Rector Ridwan, with Prof. Wadi and Prof. Mohamad Sobirin, Director of the International Office of UIN SAIZU, serving as witnesses.
The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a framework for academic cooperation between the two institutions through initiatives such as the exchange of faculty members, researchers, supervisors, examiners, and administrative staff; student exchange programs; collaborative research projects and joint publications; the organization of lectures, seminars, and symposia; the exchange of academic information and instructional materials; and other mutually agreed forms of academic cooperation.
Even before the formal execution of the agreement, the partnership had already begun to take shape through academic engagements. As one of its first collaborative activities, Prof. Wadi was invited to serve as a keynote speaker at the 5th International Conference on Transdisciplinary Religious Studies (ICONTREES) organized by UIN SAIZU on June 3, 2026. He delivered a keynote lecture on “Sharia in the Contemporary Era,” where he discussed the evolving role of Islamic law amid contemporary global developments and contributed to the conference’s transdisciplinary dialogue.
Complementing his keynote address, Prof. Wadi conducted a series of guest lectures from June 2 to 5, 2026, engaging with faculty members, students, scholars, and researchers from various countries. These sessions provided a venue for meaningful discussions on ecotheology, environmental sustainability, and other global challenges that require interdisciplinary approaches.
During his lectures, Prof. Wadi underscored the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, robotics, and nanotechnology, emphasizing that these emerging technologies will profoundly transform human society. He stressed that Islamic educational institutions must continuously adapt to these developments to remain relevant while preserving the core values of Islamic scholarship.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Rector Ridwan emphasized that meaningful cooperation between universities extends far beyond the signing of formal agreements. Rather, he noted that such partnerships should serve as bridges for sustained academic exchanges, collaborative research, community engagement, and the sharing of knowledge across borders.
Prof. Wadi likewise shared that he experienced a strong sense of cultural affinity during his visit to Indonesia and regarded the conference as a strategic platform for addressing the future directions and challenges of Islamic studies.
The five-year partnership between UP and UIN SAIZU reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to strengthening international academic cooperation, promoting intercultural understanding, and advancing excellence in education, research, and professional exchange. Through this collaboration, the two universities aim to cultivate enduring scholarly relationships that will benefit their respective academic communities and contribute to the advancement of Islamic studies in the region and beyond.
Article by Camille Lucille A. Bello, University Researcher II
Photos by UIN SAIZU