In an era when leadership is often tested by polarization, performance metrics, and social complexity, Indonesia’s leading Islamic university is going back to the basics: training leaders through empathy, responsibility, and civic character.

This was the core message as Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University (UIN Sunan Kalijaga) Yogyakarta officially inaugurated the Organizing Committee for the 2025/2026 Academic Orientation Program (Pengenalan Budaya Akademik dan Kemahasiswaan or PBAK). The event was held on Tuesday (15/7) at the university’s Convention Hall, marking a formal step under Rector’s Decree No. 118.3 of 2025 concerning the PBAK implementation for new students.

Attending the ceremony were UIN Sunan Kalijaga Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Cooperation Dr. Abdur Rozaki, vice deans from various faculties, and dozens of student volunteers who will organize the PBAK program both at the university and faculty levels.

Learning Leadership by Leading

In his address, Dr. Abdur Rozaki underlined that involvement in the PBAK organizing team is not merely administrative—it is a fundamental part of leadership education in higher education.

“Your dedication is extraordinary,” Rozaki told the committee. “Through this experience, you learn to organize large groups of people with proper governance and a clear vision. This is a crucial exercise in public leadership.”

Leadership, he emphasized, is not something one is born into. It is formed through a process—by engaging, taking responsibility, and learning how to navigate real-life group dynamics.

“If you aspire to become a public figure or a policymaker, this is where you start. Leading people is where leadership is truly forged,” he said.

From Fear to Friendship: A New Orientation Ethos

Rozaki also reminded all committee members to uphold three guiding principles throughout the PBAK process:

1. Abandon all forms of bullying or coercion,
2. Introduce academic culture creatively,
3. Prioritize a humanist and welcoming approach.

“Being intimidating is outdated. New students deserve to be greeted with a smile, a handshake, and genuine respect. They’ve earned their place here through a rigorous selection process,” he added.

Ethics as a Cornerstone

One of the most defining moments in the event was the reading of the Integrity Pact, led by student representatives from the university-level committee, faculty coordinators, and student activity units (UKM). Observed directly by the Rector and Vice Rector, the pledge reaffirmed the student committee’s ethical and professional commitment to ensuring the PBAK program reflects UIN Sunan Kalijaga’s values of humanism, academic integrity, and institutional excellence.

This ceremonial gesture was more than symbolic—it was a declaration that organizing student orientation is not just a logistical duty, but an ethical responsibility grounded in trust, accountability, and mutual respect.

Rector’s Charge: Knowledge Must Serve the Nation

In his keynote speech, Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan highlighted the strategic mandate of universities in Indonesia: to not only produce knowledge, but also to cultivate competent human capital in service of the nation.

“Law No. 12 of 2012 mandates universities to increase competitiveness nationally and globally, while also contributing to solving the nation’s problems,” Noorhaidi said.

This mission, he noted, cannot be achieved by university administrators alone.

“Students are the heart of a university. You are not only beneficiaries but key actors in fulfilling this mission.”

He emphasized that the path to meaningful knowledge does not stop at the classroom door. True learning, he said, includes engagement in student organizations, cultural programs, and volunteer work. These are the experiences that shape not just skills, but also character.

“This is a significant step in shaping your future. Knowledge, leadership skills, and strong character will prepare us to become visionary and humanist leaders,” Noorhaidi concluded.

Building Culture Through Orientation

Beyond simply introducing academic systems, PBAK at UIN Sunan Kalijaga is clearly being positioned as a cultural institution—a formative rite of passage that reflects the values the university wishes to see in the world: inclusion, empathy, civic integrity, and intellectual maturity.

With thousands of new students entering Indonesia’s higher education system each year, how they are welcomed—and by whom—matters deeply. In Yogyakarta this week, UIN Sunan Kalijaga showed that academic orientation can be more than a checklist. It can be the beginning of a student’s moral and civic awakening.