YOGYAKARTA — UIN Sunan Kalijaga reaffirmed its commitment to strategic collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ikatan Konsultan Pajak Indonesia (IKPI) on Thursday, August 21, 2025. The agreement, sealed at the Auditorium of FEB UGM, aims to bridge academia and the tax profession in ways that directly benefit students, universities, and the nation.

For UIN Sunan Kalijaga, this MoU is more than ceremonial. Dean of FEBI, Prof. Dr. Misnen Ardiansyah, S.E., M.Si., K.CA., ACPA, stressed that it opens wide opportunities for students and faculty to engage with real-world taxation. “This is not just a formal document, but a commitment to progressive education, producing competent graduates, and preserving national values,” he said.

IKPI Chairman Vaudhy Starworld, S.E., Ak., CA, ASEAN CPA, underscored that the partnership is meant to accelerate knowledge transfer while improving tax services nationwide. “What matters is not the celebration, but the implementation,” he asserted.

Echoing that spirit, UIN Sunan Kalijaga’s Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Cooperation, Dr. Abdur Rozaki, welcomed the MoU as proof of collaboration with tangible results. Since 2019, UIN Sunan Kalijaga has worked with Kanwil DJP DIY as a center for tax research and training, while also providing technical consulting for both academia and the public. Students, he added, have actively served as relawan pajak, assisting in annual tax reporting—evidence that academic-professional synergy can yield practical, societal impact.

Dr. Rozaki also reflected on the cultural dimension of taxation, noting the value of infusing tax compliance with the spirit of zakat. “Zakat is based on spiritual awareness, while tax is bound by law. If the spirit of zakat shapes our tax culture, compliance will grow and strengthen state revenue,” he observed.

By forging this MoU, UIN Sunan Kalijaga highlights how cross-sector collaboration strengthens student competence, advances professional standards, and contributes directly to national development. (humassk)