Yogyakarta, 17 April 2026 — The Center for Financing of Religious and Religious Education (Puspenma), under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, in collaboration with the Faculty of Education and Teacher Training (FITK) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, strengthened their partnership to advance research development and expand access to scholarships through a program held on campus. The event featured Dr. Ruchman Basori, S.Ag., M.Ag., Head of Puspenma, as the keynote speaker, and was attended by the Dean of FITK, Prof. Dr. Sigit Purnama, M.Pd., along with faculty leaders, including heads and secretaries of study programs at the master’s and doctoral levels.
This initiative forms part of a strategic effort to enhance human resource quality in religious education through strengthening the research ecosystem and providing sustainable educational funding support. The collaboration between Puspenma and higher education institutions is considered essential in ensuring that scholarship and research programs are effectively implemented and impactful.
In his presentation, Dr. Ruchman Basori emphasized that synergy between government and universities plays a crucial role in maximizing the impact of educational funding programs.
“Scholarships are not merely financial assistance, but also strategic instruments to enhance academic capacity and broaden the contribution of higher education institutions to the advancement of knowledge,” he stated.
He further noted that strengthening research culture must be supported by policies integrated with funding schemes, enabling increased academic productivity and higher-quality scholarly publications.
Meanwhile, the Dean of FITK UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Prof. Dr. Sigit Purnama, M.Pd., highlighted that the collaboration represents a strategic step in enhancing academic quality within the faculty, particularly in research development and human resource capacity building.
“This synergy with Puspenma provides valuable opportunities for FITK to expand scholarship access for students while improving the quality of research conducted by both faculty members and students. It aligns with our commitment to fostering a productive and globally competitive academic culture,” he remarked.
From an institutional perspective, the event also served as a platform to align academic development programs with external funding opportunities, particularly in the areas of research and scholarships. The involvement of leadership from master’s and doctoral programs reflects the faculty’s commitment to strengthening collaborative academic governance.
In a broader context, this collaboration aligns with the evolving demands of global higher education, which call for enhanced research quality, internationalization, and inclusive access to education.
Through this partnership, it is expected that members of the academic community will gain broader opportunities to access scholarships and actively participate in impactful and relevant research initiatives.
Conclusion
This initiative underscores the importance of collaboration between government and higher education institutions in building a sustainable academic ecosystem. Moving forward, the partnership between Puspenma and FITK UIN Sunan Kalijaga is expected to develop into more concrete programs that support the advancement of education and research quality.
Source:
Public Relations Office of FITK UIN Sunan Kalijaga; documentation of the Puspenma–FITK collaboration program.