Selangor, 14 July 2026 - The Arabic Language Education Study Program (PBA) of the Faculty of Language and Literature Education (FPBS), Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), strengthened its international network through the signing of an Implementation Agreement (IA) with the Department of Language and Literacy, Kulliyyah of Education, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). The signing, which took place at the Al-Ghazaly Conference Room, Kulliyyah of Education IIUM, marked a strategic step in developing collaboration in education, research, and community service as part of the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education.
The UPI Arabic Language Education Study Program delegation was led by Dr. Asep Sopian, S.Pd., M.Ag., as Head of the Study Program, accompanied by Dr. Rinaldi Supriadi, M.Pd., as Secretary of the Study Program, along with two lecturers, Hikmah Maulani, M.Pd. and Farhan Fuadi, M.Pd. The delegation was welcomed by the IIUM Department of Language and Literacy led by Dr. Nurazzelena as Head of Department. Also present were Prof. Ts. Dr. Muhammad Sabri, Dr. Erfan, Dr. Yakoob, Dr. Khadijah Khalilah, and Dr. Wan Rusli, who joined the discussion on various opportunities for academic collaboration between the two institutions.
Opening the event, Dr. Nurazzelena expressed appreciation for the academic visit from Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. The event continued with an inter-institutional introduction session before IIUM presented the profile of the Department of Language and Literacy, Kulliyyah of Education. In its presentation, IIUM introduced the department’s structure, lecturers’ areas of expertise, academic programs, and various international activities that have been developed.
In the next session, Dr. Asep Sopian presented the profile of UPI’s Arabic Language Education Study Program, covering its vision and mission, academic strengths, achievements in implementing the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, and various internationalization efforts that have been undertaken. The presentation also provided an overview of the cooperation potential that UPI and IIUM can jointly develop to improve the quality of Arabic language education at the international level.
The meeting then continued with a sharing session on the development of academic partnerships. In the area of education and teaching, the two institutions discussed opportunities for visiting lecturers, staff mobility, the exchange of academic experience, and joint learning activities. In research and development, the discussion focused on research collaboration, the involvement of lecturers as reviewers of scholarly articles, the organization of international conferences, and joint publications. In the area of community service, both parties explored the implementation of student mobility and community engagement programs as forms of higher education contribution to society.
The highlight of the event was the signing of the Implementation Agreement (IA) as a shared commitment to realize the various collaborative agendas that had been discussed. The signing was witnessed directly by the Dean of Kulliyyah of Education IIUM, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suhailah binti Hussien, who expressed her hope that cooperation between Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia and the International Islamic University Malaysia would continue to grow.
“This is a good activity, and hopefully it can continue in the future,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suhailah binti Hussien while witnessing the Implementation Agreement signing ceremony.
The event concluded with a group photo session and friendly gathering as the closing of the academic visit series. In addition to strengthening institutional ties between the two institutions, the meeting became an initial step toward realizing the various forms of collaboration that had been agreed upon, ranging from academic exchange, joint research, and scholarly publications to the development of community service programs.
Closing the series of activities, the Secretary of UPI’s Arabic Language Education Study Program, Dr. Rinaldi Supriadi, M.Pd., expressed his optimism regarding the sustainability of the partnership that has been established.
“We hope this meeting will not mark the end of academic ties between UPI and IIUM, but rather the beginning of a sustainable collaboration. We hope that the various programs that have been planned can soon be realized and provide benefits for both institutions,” he said.
The collaboration between UPI’s Arabic Language Education Study Program and the Department of Language and Literacy IIUM also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) through strengthening the quality of higher education based on international collaboration, as well as Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by building sustainable global partnerships in education, research, and community service.