Vice Rector III Dr. Abdul Rozaki of UIN Sunan Kalijaga and representatives from Walailak University, Thailand, led by Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, met to discuss a significant new partnership. The event, held on Friday, September 19, 2025, marked the first proposal of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two universities, setting the stage for future academic collaboration and research exchange.

The proposed partnership aims to build strong cooperation in areas such as Islamic philosophy, education, and social sciences. Both institutions share a commitment to advancing Islamic heritage studies and promoting academic excellence across Southeast Asia. During the meeting, Dr. Abdul Rozaki expressed optimism about the initiative, emphasizing the importance of regional collaboration.

“We see great potential in integrating falsafah into the broader academic and cultural context of our region. UIN Sunan Kalijaga is ready to support programs that have meaningful impact and to ensure smooth coordination for the success of this cooperation,” he said.

Discussions during the meeting explored several potential areas of collaboration, including joint-degree programs, faculty and student exchanges, and joint research projects. Both universities also discussed the possibility of establishing a UIN Sunan Kalijaga study center at Walailak University to strengthen scholarly exchange and expand opportunities for postgraduate studies.

“This partnership reflects our shared vision of building a bridge for knowledge and cultural exchange between Indonesia and Thailand,” said Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, expressing Walailak University’s enthusiasm for the collaboration.

The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to begin drafting the formal MoU document, which will outline specific academic, cultural, and research cooperation initiatives for the next five years. The session ended with the exchange of souvenirs and a shared commitment to fostering mutual growth in higher education across the region.