"UNUJA Celebrates Graduation and 7th Anniversary with 1,213 Students, Marking a Milestone in Education and Innovation"

Nurul Jadid University (UNUJA) in Probolinggo marked a significant milestone as it celebrated the graduation of 1,213 students over the weekend of October 19-20, 2024, at the Nurul Jadid Islamic Boarding School Hall. The ceremony, held in conjunction with UNUJA’s 7th anniversary, affirmed the role of this pesantren-based institution in advancing higher education across Indonesia. The graduates represented various faculties: 497 from the Faculty of Islamic Studies, 53 from the Faculty of Health Sciences, 146 from the Faculty of Social Humanities, 371 from the Faculty of Engineering, and 146 from the Postgraduate Program.

In his speech, UNUJA Rector KH Abdul Hamid Wahid emphasized that the graduation ceremony symbolizes the beginning of each student’s journey toward meaningful contributions to society. Carrying the theme “Stepping Forward with UNUJA, Achieving World-Class Excellence,” he underscored the essential synergy between academia and community and shared his hopes that UNUJA graduates would become leaders amidst global challenges while preserving their Islamic identity. “We are committed to developing a generation that excels in knowledge, possesses noble character, and is ready to innovate,” he affirmed.

KH Abdul Hamid Wahid also announced that UNUJA is now entering the second phase of its Long-Term Development Plan, focusing on "Excellence in Management & Resources." This stage involves enhancing management quality and resources by forging strategic partnerships with industries, government agencies, and both national and international educational institutions. One standout program is UNUJA’s collaboration with 11 practitioner lecturers from multinational corporations through the Ministry of Education’s "Praktisi Mengajar" program, which allows UNUJA to align its curriculum with industry needs and offers students direct interaction with industry professionals.

UNUJA has further engaged more than 32 national industry partners in the Certified Internship and Independent Study Program. This initiative gives students the chance to develop innovative solutions applicable in both industrial and community sectors. In terms of community service, UNUJA expanded its International Community Service Program (KKN) since 2022, reaching Malaysia and Thailand, providing students with global service experience.

Additionally, postgraduate students were recognized for their achievements. Uswatun Hasanah, a Master’s student in Islamic Educational Management, was awarded Best GPA with a 3.97, while Muhammad Hasan Abdul Wafi received recognition for outstanding non-academic achievements in the Master’s in Islamic Religious Education program.

To further enhance graduates' competitiveness, UNUJA conducts relevant workforce competency exams. This year, 115 graduates earned professional certification from the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP), and 1,133 others passed the Furudhul Ainiyah competency exam, nationally recognized by the Nahdlatul Ulama Scholars Association (RMI NU). Additionally, 57 graduates achieved international language standards in English and Arabic, as demonstrated by their TOEFL and TOAFL scores.

UNUJA has taken an innovative approach by implementing Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in practical learning, providing students with an interactive, immersive learning experience, even virtually. This effort is part of UNUJA’s strategy to continuously update its teaching methods in line with technological advances.

UNUJA’s commitment to innovation is also evident in its international research collaborations, including the Indonesia-Australia Infrastructure Partnership (KIAT) in 2024. UNUJA also supports new entrepreneurs through on-campus business incubators, such as PT Khailabs Kreatif Media, which focuses on game development, and PT Permata Medika Bangsa, specializing in healthcare services and herbal products. This initiative prepares graduates to become not only workforce-ready but also innovative young entrepreneurs.

In terms of educational governance, UNUJA has proven its quality by obtaining ISO 21001:2018 certification for Educational Organizations Management Systems and expanding its international network with institutions from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, China, and the Philippines. These partnerships include programs such as International KKN and collaborative research with universities abroad, including Cotabato State University in the Philippines.

These achievements have brought UNUJA various accolades in the 2023/2024 academic year, including the title of "Inspirational Rector 2024," the award of "PTS MBKM Independent Initiator," recognition as the "Best NU Campus 2024" by the AD Scientific Index, and the "Bronze Winner" at the Research, Technology, and Community Service Awards (Garuda Award) in the publication category.

Concluding his speech, KH Abdul Hamid Wahid delivered an inspiring message to the graduates, “True success is not measured by position or wealth but by the extent of positive impact we bring to others. Let us strive to be a generation that contributes meaningfully to society, fosters collaboration, and creates lasting, impactful change,” he said, closing with hope.