Yogyakarta, Indonesia — In a moment steeped in meaning, the echo of a gong rang through the Convention Hall of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta on July 31, 2025. With that single sound, Prof. Setyabudi Indartono, Head of the Higher Education Service Institute (LLDIKTI) Region V Yogyakarta, signaled the official launch of a new era for the university: the opening of its Master’s Program in Psychology under the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FISHUM).

The inauguration marked more than just the addition of a new academic program—it represented a philosophical commitment to human-centered education and a deepened integration between scientific knowledge and Islamic values.

“This program is not simply about teaching psychology; it’s about transforming it into a tool for building civilization,” said Prof. Dr. Erika Setyanti Kusumaputri, Dean of FISHUM. “We are not only shaping professionals, but also nurturing human beings who are socially aware and spiritually grounded.”

After undergoing a rigorous academic vetting process—including two rounds of revision at the university senate—the program officially received its license under Decree No. 400/B/0/2025 from Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology. It offers two specializations: Educational Psychology and Industrial-Organizational Psychology.

The graduate program is designed to produce professionals who can serve as educators, researchers, and consultants with a strong sense of ethics and humanity. Its curriculum embodies the university’s unique approach to “integration and interconnection”—where Islamic insight enriches academic rigor to tackle contemporary issues more holistically.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Dr. Istiningsih, Vice Rector for Academic and Institutional Development, underscored the urgency of the program. “The rise in mental health issues, especially among young people, demands not only clinical responses but academic leadership,” she said. “This master's program is our concrete response—not just to meet institutional goals, but to heal a society in distress.”

She also revealed that the program will serve as the foundation for a future Faculty of Psychology at UIN Sunan Kalijaga's Campus II in Pajangan. “This is the beginning of something bigger. We are building a home for future scholars of psychology—thinkers who blend science with social conscience,” she added.

For Prof. Setyabudi Indartono, the program brings new color to the academic ecosystem of Yogyakarta and beyond. He praised UIN Sunan Kalijaga’s effort to offer a psychology program that doesn't separate science from spirituality. “This program has the potential to offer both theoretical breakthroughs and practical solutions—especially as we face rising cases of psychological distress, even among university students,” he noted.

Citing increasing incidents of student anxiety and suicide, Prof. Setyabudi urged cross-institutional collaboration to tackle these issues systematically. He called on the new program to lead efforts in community engagement, research, and outreach that address these challenges with compassion and clarity.

The ceremony concluded with the formal handover of the ministerial decree to university leaders, followed by a public lecture titled “The Future of Psychology: Addressing Tomorrow’s Challenges Today.” The event was attended by deans, directors of graduate programs, psychology alumni, and representatives from prominent universities such as UGM, UAD, UII, and UNISA, alongside high school educators and educational leaders from across the region.

In launching this program, UIN Sunan Kalijaga is not merely expanding its academic portfolio—it is affirming its role as an institution that dares to reimagine education as a force for civilization. Psychology, in this vision, is no longer confined to theory or clinics. It becomes a discipline that listens, responds, and builds. (humassk)