Yogyakarta — The Faculty of Education and Teacher Training (FITK) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga has further strengthened its academic capacity with the inauguration of Prof. Dr. Zainal Arifin as Professor in Islamic Educational Leadership. This milestone marks a significant contribution to the faculty’s scholarly development, particularly in advancing the field of leadership in Islamic education.
In his inaugural speech titled “Ihsan as the Highest Motivation of Spiritual Leadership in Islamic Educational Institutions,” Prof. Zainal Arifin emphasized the importance of spiritual values in shaping leadership within Islamic educational settings.
He explained that spiritual leadership is grounded in fundamental values such as integrity, honesty, humility, and moral responsibility. According to him, leadership should not rely solely on formal authority but must also be supported by inner strength that provides meaning, direction, and inspiration for members of the organization.
Furthermore, Prof. Zainal Arifin connected the concept of spiritual leadership with modern psychological theory, particularly the notion of self-transcendence introduced by Abraham Maslow. This concept represents the highest level of human motivation, where individuals go beyond personal interests in pursuit of greater and more meaningful purposes.
He noted that this idea aligns closely with the Islamic concept of ihsan, which refers to performing every action with an awareness of the presence of God and striving for excellence in all endeavors.
“Ihsan is not merely a spiritual value, but also an ethical foundation for carrying out roles and responsibilities, both in social and professional life,” he explained.
From an Islamic perspective, the value of ihsan encourages individuals to act with kindness, exercise self-restraint, forgive others, and carry out responsibilities with sincerity and accountability. Therefore, ihsan is not only normative but also practical in fostering professionalism.
In the context of Islamic educational institutions, he emphasized that ihsan can serve as a foundational principle for developing leadership that is not only organizationally effective but also spiritually and morally grounded. Leadership based on ihsan is expected to cultivate a work culture characterized by integrity, humanism, and a commitment to the common good.
This inauguration also reflects FITK UIN Sunan Kalijaga’s commitment to strengthening academic excellence and scholarly contributions, particularly in the development of Islamic educational leadership that remains relevant to contemporary challenges.
With the addition of this new professor, FITK UIN Sunan Kalijaga continues to reinforce its role as a center for the advancement of Islamic education that is excellent, integrative, and globally competitive.
Source:
Public Relations of FITK UIN Sunan Kalijaga; documentation of the inauguration of Prof. Dr. Zainal Arifin as Professor.