YOGYAKARTA, August 21, 2025 — UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta has taken center stage in global academia by hosting the 9th International Library and Information Science Society (I-LISS) Conference, officially opened today at the Faculty of Medicine.

Carrying the theme “Revisiting Competencies: Preparing the Next Generation of Library and Information Science Professionals,” the event underscores the urgent need to rethink the skills required in the digital era.

Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan set the tone in his address: “The library is the heart of the university,” he said, positioning libraries as engines of knowledge, research, and innovation.

The conference brings together scholars and practitioners from across Asia, beginning with a welcoming dinner that fostered collaboration and dialogue. Conference Chair Dr. Thoriq Tri Prabowo highlighted the strong international turnout as proof of a collective commitment to advancing the LIS profession.

I-LISS President Prof. Dong-Geun Oh of Keimyung University, South Korea, reaffirmed the society’s mission to build professional networks that confront digital disruption and safeguard cultural heritage. Alongside him, Secretary General Dr. P. Rajendran (India) delivered a keynote stressing how LIS professionals must adapt to remain relevant in a fast-changing world.

Invited speakers from Thailand, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, South Korea, and Singapore are addressing issues from digital competencies and AI to ethical practices and the preservation of cultural narratives in the digital space.

Moderated by seasoned academics, the sessions are designed not just as forums for discussion, but as platforms to reimagine the role of LIS in shaping inclusive, human-centered knowledge systems.

With its global scope and critical lens, the 9th I-LISS Conference positions UIN Sunan Kalijaga as more than a host—it emerges as a catalyst for redefining the future of libraries and information science in the 21st century. (humassk)