Yogyakarta, May 20, 2025 — The Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business (FEBI) of the State Islamic University (UIN) Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta has once again demonstrated its commitment to building an international network through the implementation of a collaborative program involving foreign students in regular academic activities. The activity, which took place on May 20, 2025, was part of the International Student Mobility scheme that specifically presented students from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia to participate in the teaching and learning process with local students in the FEBI UIN Sunan Kalijaga lecture halls.

This activity is not only an event to introduce the education system in Indonesia for foreign students, but also a forum for cross-cultural learning that enriches the two nations of the same ethnicity. UiTM as one of the leading universities in Malaysia sends students from various study programs such as Bachelor of Sharia Accounting, Bachelor of Sharia Economics, Bachelor of Sharia Banking, Bachelor of Islamic Financial Management, to Master of Islamic Economics. Meanwhile, FEBI UIN Sunan Kalijaga has prepared academic facilities, classrooms, and competent lecturers to support the smooth running of these activities.

This activity is part of the International Student Learning Experience program, where foreign students have the opportunity to take part in direct teaching and learning activities in regular classes at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta. They actively participate in discussions, Q&A sessions, and presentations of lecture materials presented by the lecturers.

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, teaching and learning activities began at 08.30 to 09.30 WIB. UiTM students were warmly welcomed by lecturers and local FEBI students who had been appointed as class supervisors. The learning atmosphere was conducive, communicative, and full of two-way interaction between students and lecturers. In each class, students from Malaysia sit side by side with local students, discussing lecture materials, exchanging views, and providing new perspectives in understanding the context of Islamic economics in the ASEAN region.

A total of 16 students from UiTM Malaysia from various study programs—including Bachelor of Sharia Accounting, Sharia Economics, Sharia Banking, Islamic Financial Management, and Master of Islamic Economics—were involved in this activity. They studied together with UIN Sunan Kalijaga students under the guidance of lecturers such as Galuh Tri Pambekti, Dr. Miftakhul Choiri, Dr. Ruspita Rani Pertiwi, Drs. Akhmad Yusuf Khoiruddin, S.E., M.Sc., Dr. Darmawan, and Dr. Prasojo.

The purpose of this activity is to strengthen academic cooperation between Islamic educational institutions in Southeast Asia and introduce the learning system at UIN Sunan Kalijaga to foreign students. In addition, this interaction is expected to enrich the learning experience for both parties and open up opportunities for research collaboration and student exchange in the future.

In classroom 405, students from the Bachelor of Sharia Accounting program at UiTM, including Muhammad Nor Alif Bin Norhaizam and his colleagues, attended an Economics lecture taught by Galuh Tri Pambekti, M.E.K. Students from Malaysia actively participated in discussions about the sharia economic system in Indonesia, as well as comparing it with similar policies and practices in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, in room 402, students from the Bachelor of Sharia Economics program such as Siti Aisyah Binti Mohd Murshidi participated in the Business Development course supervised by Dr. Miftakhul Choiri. The class discussion became more dynamic when UiTM students shared their experiences about the development of sharia entrepreneurship in their countries, as well as the challenges faced in developing halal businesses in the Southeast Asia region.

In another class, namely room 503, students from the Bachelor of Sharia Banking program such as Anis Humaira Binti Alizi attended the Islam and Science course by Drs. Akhmad Yusuf Khoiruddin, S.E., M.Si. This class provides a space for reflection on the importance of methodology in contextual Islamic economic research, as well as how qualitative and quantitative approaches are applied in comparative studies between Indonesia and Malaysia.

In room 313, Nurnabilah Fatina Binti Syafarin Syah and her colleagues from the Bachelor of Islamic Financial Management program attended a Research Methodology lecture guided by Dr. Darmawan. The focus of the learning includes analysis of contemporary Islamic financial instruments and academic evaluation mechanisms in assessing the impact of Islamic fiscal policies in developing countries.

From the master's level, two students from the Master of Islamic Economics program, namely Muhammad Arif Syukri Bin Suhaini and Ajmal Haizi, attended the Islamic Financial Management class guided by Dr. Prasojo in room 105. In this session, students discussed in depth strategic issues in the management of Islamic social funds, such as zakat and productive waqf, as well as the integration of Islamic financial theory and national development policies.

This activity not only brought together students from the two countries physically, but also opened up space for the exchange of cultural values, academic practices, and scientific approaches. In each class, UiTM students were not only passive observers, but active contributors who gave new colors to the dynamics of the discussion. This shows the readiness of FEBI UIN Sunan Kalijaga as an inclusive institution that is open to international diversity.

The lecturers also appreciated the involvement of foreign students in the learning process. They considered that the presence of UiTM students gave new enthusiasm to the class, encouraging local students to think critically and be open to cross-border perspectives. In many cases, the differences in regulatory and social contexts revealed by Malaysian students triggered further discussions that were reflective and solution-oriented.

As class companions, UIN students also felt great benefits from this activity. They were not only hosts who welcomed guests, but also dialogue partners in building a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities of Islamic economics in the era of globalization.

The learning activities of UiTM students in the FEBI UIN Sunan Kalijaga class are one form of real implementation of the vision of internationalizing Islamic higher education in Indonesia. This program is in line with national policies in encouraging cross-country academic collaboration, especially within the framework of the ASEAN Higher Education Area (AHEA) and Islamic Higher Education Networking.

FEBI UIN Sunan Kalijaga considers it important to continue and expand programs like this, not only through student exchanges, but also through joint research, visiting lectureships, dual degrees, and joint curriculum development based on progressive Islamic values.

In the future, it is hoped that activities like this can be carried out sustainably, not only involving students from Malaysia, but also from other countries in the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe who are interested in Islamic economics and finance studies. Through inclusive and sustainable collaboration, UIN Sunan Kalijaga wants to emphasize its role as a center of excellence in transnational Islamic science that is adaptive to the challenges of the times.

With the implementation of this activity, FEBI UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta has demonstrated its capacity and readiness as a host for global learning. The presence of students from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia in FEBI classrooms is not only an important note in the history of academic collaboration, but also an inspiration for all parties to continue building synergies in superior, competitive, and globally-minded Islamic education.