Yogyakarta, May 22, 2026 – The Library Science Study Program, Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, continues to strengthen its internationalization efforts through the implementation of collaborative initiatives with the Faculty of Information Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia. One concrete manifestation of this partnership was the “Matching Grant Discussion,” held virtually on May 22, 2026, as an initial step toward developing joint research between the two institutions. This activity followed up on the Memorandum of Research Collaboration Agreement, which focuses on advancing joint research in the field of Oral History and Local Knowledge.

During the meeting, both institutions discussed a research proposal entitled “Preserving the Past, Empowering the Future: A Collaborative Initiative on Oral History and Local Knowledge.” The proposal aims to document, preserve, and digitize oral history and local knowledge in Indonesia and Malaysia, while also strengthening the research capacity of both universities through collaborative research, knowledge exchange, and international scientific publications.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was an agreement to develop joint research under the broader theme “A Collaborative Initiative on Oral History and Local Knowledge,” with the initial phase focusing on “Local Tradition Tourism in Yogyakarta and Malacca.” This research will explore local traditions, oral histories, and the utilization of cultural heritage as a means of strengthening community-based tourism in both regions.

In addition to determining the research focus, both teams outlined the stages of implementation, including research coordination, field data collection in Indonesia and Malaysia, preparation of digital documentation, organization of an international colloquium, and publication of articles in reputable international journals indexed by Scopus or Web of Science as the primary outputs of the collaboration.

The meeting was attended by Prof. Ts. Dr. Roziya Abu, Dr. Hanis Diyana Kamaruddin, Dr. Norizan Anwar, and Dr. Aniza Jamaluddin from UiTM. Representatives from UIN Sunan Kalijaga included Prof. Dr. Nurdin, S.Ag., S.S., M.A. (Dean of the Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences), M. Ainul Yaqin, M.Ed., Ph.D. (Head of the Library Science Study Program), Dr. Sri Rohyanto Zulaikha, Dr. Syamsul Arifin, S.Ag., M.Ag., Dr. Andryana Fatmawati, Dr. Marwiyah, and Muhammad Bagus Febriyanto, M.IP.

This collaboration is expected to serve as a foundation for strengthening international research networks between UIN Sunan Kalijaga and UiTM, while also producing reputable scientific publications, enhancing faculty research capacity, and contributing meaningfully to the preservation of oral history and local knowledge as part of Southeast Asia’s cultural heritage.