On May 20, 2025, a new chapter in Islamic finance was written—not in Dubai or Kuala Lumpur, but in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. At the heart of this intellectual moment was UIN Sunan Kalijaga, a university long rooted in Islamic scholarship and increasingly bold in its global aspirations. The university hosted the 1st International Conference on Islamic Financial Management for Students (ICIFiMS)—a pioneering event entirely initiated, organized, and attended by students across Southeast Asia.

It was more than a conference. It was a statement.

Set against the backdrop of growing global economic uncertainty and shifting financial paradigms, ICIFiMS tackled a timely theme: “The Role of Islamic Finance in Promoting Economic Resilience.” Over 200 participants from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand joined, exchanging ideas not only in academic papers but also in hallway conversations and cultural moments. The campus came alive with a sense of scholarly energy rarely seen in undergraduate circles.

Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, captured the spirit of the event in his opening remarks. “This is a true international student conference—created and led by students. I hope it becomes a tradition, not a one-time achievement,” he said, linking the initiative to larger economic tensions like the US-China trade conflict.

But ICIFiMS wasn’t born overnight. It followed a series of academic visits to five universities in Malaysia and Thailand by UIN’s Sharia Financial Management Program earlier this year. Those visits produced real partnerships—mutual exchanges of faculty and students, joint research, and shared vision. As Dr. Darmawan, head of the program, put it: “This is no longer about visits—it’s about reciprocity.”

Yogyakarta proved to be a fitting stage. Known as a city of students and culture, it is also emerging as a hub of Islamic finance innovation. In 2024, it earned five national awards in Islamic economic development, including top honors in Sharia Business Incubation. At its center, UIN Sunan Kalijaga stands as both a symbol and engine of progress—its FEBI faculty building itself financed through Sukuk Negara, Indonesia’s sovereign Islamic bond.

In a time when global finance often feels abstract and impersonal, ICIFiMS offered something rare: a human face to Islamic economic thought, led by young minds unafraid to think globally while rooted in local wisdom.

What happened in Yogyakarta may not make global headlines today. But one day, when the next generation of Islamic financial leaders recounts their journey, they may well begin here. (humassk)