Postgraduate Program of Nurul Jadid University Holds International Conference: “The Future is Now; Reimagining Knowledge, Power, and Justice in a Chan

Paiton, October 18, 2025 – The Postgraduate Program of Nurul Jadid University (UNUJA) once again demonstrated its strong commitment to strengthening the role of pesantren-based higher education on the global stage by organizing an International Conference titled “The Future is Now; Reimagining Knowledge, Power, and Justice in a Changing World.” The event, held in Hall I of Pondok Pesantren Nurul Jadid, Paiton, Probolinggo, served as a significant academic milestone in integrating the values of pesantren with the dynamic development of global scholarship.

The conference was jointly organized by UNUJA Postgraduate Program and Perma Pendis Indonesia, attracting 350 participants, comprising 200 onsite and 150 online attendees. Participants came from both domestic and international universities, including the Department of Global Buddhism, Institute of Science Innovation and Culture, Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep (Thailand), UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, UIN Samarinda, and various other Islamic and general universities across Indonesia.

Beyond serving as a scholarly forum, the conference featured main conference sessions, parallel discussions, and prestigious academic competitions such as Best Article and Best Presenter, each recognizing the ten most outstanding participants. The event provided a platform for academics, researchers, and students to exchange ideas, strengthen collaborations, and critically reflect on the role of knowledge in achieving justice and social balance amid global transformation.

A distinguished lineup of national and international speakers enriched the academic discourse of the conference. Among them were Prof. Dr. H. Badruddin, M.Ag., CEAM (UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung), who explored the transformation of Islamic epistemology in the context of modernity; Prof. Dr. H. Khusnulridha, M.Pd (UIN KH. Achmad Siddiq Jember), who emphasized the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration in scientific development; and Dr. H. Akhmad Sruji Bakhtiar, M.Pd.I, Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of East Java, who highlighted the vital role of Islamic education in shaping a just and moral society.

Representing Nurul Jadid University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. H. Akmal Mundiri, M.Pd, presented an insightful perspective on the integration of pesantren values with global challenges, asserting that pesantren-based scholarship possesses high adaptability to contemporary issues. Dr. Lia Istifhama, M.E.I, a member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI), discussed the importance of social justice within the framework of national education. The conference also featured contributions from international scholars such as Dr. Moses Adeleke Adeoye (University of Ilorin, Nigeria), Dr. Madya Dr. Zuralda Abdullah (University of Malaysia), Prof. Dr. Ombra A. Imam (University of the Philippines), and Shahzadi Hina Salin (University of Pakistan), who offered diverse multicultural perspectives on the main conference theme.

In his opening remarks, Vice Rector III of UNUJA, Dr. H. Hasan Baharun, M.Pd, emphasized that this international conference exemplifies UNUJA’s concrete commitment to expanding international academic networks and reinforcing Pondok Pesantren Nurul Jadid’s position as a leading Islamic educational institution actively contributing to global knowledge development. “This conference represents our effort to transform the pesantren into a productive, inclusive, and globally beneficial academic space. A pesantren should not only serve as a moral institution but also as a center of scientific innovation,” he affirmed.

The conference has generated strategic academic benefits for UNUJA’s Postgraduate Program. Internally, it strengthens the culture of research, enhances scientific publication competence, and opens pathways for international collaboration among lecturers and students. Externally, it broadens UNUJA’s cooperation with universities across continents, reinforcing its image as a globally oriented pesantren-based higher education institution, while reaffirming Pondok Pesantren Nurul Jadid’s contribution to fostering a just and humane intellectual order.

As the parent institution of UNUJA, Pondok Pesantren Nurul Jadid has long been recognized as a modern pesantren that upholds the integration of spirituality, intellectuality, and humanity. Through international academic endeavors such as this, the pesantren continues to demonstrate its transformative capacity as a center of Islamic scientific civilization, where religious tradition harmoniously converges with innovation and globalization.

With the spirit of “The Future is Now,” the Postgraduate Program of Nurul Jadid University reaffirms its vision as a forward-looking Islamic educational institution — a space where pesantren values, scientific inquiry, and universal human ideals intersect. Through the synergy of faith, knowledge, and action, UNUJA remains committed to nurturing an academic generation that excels intellectually, upholds justice, and drives social transformation in the global era.