Yogyakarta, May 25, 2026 – The Library and Information Science Study Program of the Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences (FAIB), UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, welcomed a benchmarking visit from the Library and Information Science Study Program of Wijaya Kusuma University Surabaya (UWKS). The visit, held on Monday (May 25, 2026), marked an important milestone in strengthening inter-university synergy in addressing the challenges of higher education transformation in the digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) era, particularly in curriculum development, research, and program governance.

The UWKS delegation was led by the Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Dr. Drs. Sugeng Pujileksono, M.Si., accompanied by the Head of the Library and Information Science Study Program, Astrid Putri, S.IP., M.Si., along with faculty members. The delegation was received by the Dean of the Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences, UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Prof. Dr. Nurdin Laugu, S.Ag., S.S., M.A., together with faculty leaders, the Head of the Study Program, and lecturers from the Library and Information Science Study Program.

In his remarks, Dr. Sugeng Pujileksono stated that benchmarking visits serve as a strategic effort to broaden perspectives and acquire best practices in study program development. He emphasized that the rapid advancement of digital technology and AI requires higher education institutions to continuously innovate, particularly in designing curricula that are adaptive to scientific developments and labor market demands.

Echoing this view, Astrid Putri, S.IP., M.Si., Head of the Library and Information Science Study Program at UWKS, explained that the visit reflects the program’s commitment to improving academic quality through collaboration and learning from institutions with established experience in education, research, and program governance. She expressed hope that the outcomes of the benchmarking visit would inspire curriculum refinement, enhance the quality of teaching and learning, and serve as the starting point for sustainable collaboration in research, scientific publication, faculty and student development, and other academic activities.

Representing the host institution, Prof. Dr. Nurdin Laugu expressed appreciation for the trust placed in the Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences, UIN Sunan Kalijaga, as a partner for sharing experiences. He noted that collaboration among higher education institutions is a strategic necessity to enhance the implementation of the Tridharma of Higher Education. Through mutually reinforcing partnerships, institutions can expand academic networks, strengthen research, improve the quality of scientific publications, and sustainably develop human resources.

As a follow-up to the meeting, both faculties signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on the implementation of Tridharma activities. The scope of the agreement includes education and teaching, research, community service, scientific publication, human resource and institutional capacity development, the implementation of the Impactful Campus Program (Program Kampus Berdampak), and other mutually agreed academic initiatives. The agreement is valid for five years and serves as the foundation for various collaborative programs between the two institutions.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Library and Information Science Study Program at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, M. Ainul Yaqin, M.Ed., Ph.D., emphasized that the success of a partnership is not merely measured by the signing of documents, but by the implementation of programs that deliver tangible benefits to both parties. He stated that follow-up initiatives will focus on developing industry- and AI-responsive curricula, collaborative research in library and information science, joint scientific publications, guest lectures and expert exchanges, and capacity building for faculty members and students through various academic activities.

The discussions during the benchmarking visit also addressed several strategic issues, including the implementation of Outcome-Based Education (OBE), the utilization of AI in education and library services, strengthening research culture, and strategies to expand national and international collaboration networks. Through this benchmarking visit and the formalization of cooperation, both institutions aim to establish a productive and sustainable academic partnership that fosters innovation in library and information science while contributing meaningfully to the advancement of higher education quality in Indonesia.