JAKARTA – The Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, has been unanimously elected as the President of the Asian Islamic Universities Association (AIUA) for the 2026–2028 term. The election took place by acclamation during the 15th Annual General Meeting held at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta on June 23–25, 2026. This appointment marks a significant milestone, not only for UIN Sunan Kalijaga but also for Islamic higher education in Indonesia, as it places an Indonesian academic at the helm of a network comprising around 90 Islamic higher education institutions from various countries across Asia.

The election of Prof. Noorhaidi signifies much more than a routine change in organizational leadership. The trust placed in him by AIUA members reflects a profound recognition of his academic track record, leadership capacity, and the international networks he has built over many years.

AIUA is an association of Islamic higher education institutions in Asia that plays a pivotal role in strengthening academic collaboration, research, faculty and student exchanges, as well as enhancing the quality of Islamic higher education. Amid increasingly complex global changes, the organization serves as a strategic platform to formulate the contributions of Islamic universities toward sustainable development, peace, and the advancement of science and knowledge.

The trust now placed in Prof. Noorhaidi is the result of a long and distinguished academic and leadership journey. In the international academic community, Prof. Noorhaidi is recognized as one of Indonesia’s leading scholars who has made significant contributions to the study of contemporary Islam. He has been included in the list of the world’s top 2 percent most influential scientists, an international recognition based on the impact of his scholarly publications and the citation of his academic works.

His academic foundation was built through his master's and doctoral studies in the Netherlands. These experiences shaped an academic perspective that is firmly rooted in the Islamic scholarly tradition while remaining open to the advancement of global knowledge. Since then, he has actively fostered international academic collaborations and participated in various international forums. His leadership journey has also developed progressively over the years. At UIN Sunan Kalijaga, he served as Dean of the Faculty of Sharia and Law and was later entrusted to lead the Graduate School as its Director.

His leadership career continued when he was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies at the Indonesia International Islamic University (UIII), before eventually returning to UIN Sunan Kalijaga to serve as Rector.

The combination of his scholarly reputation, extensive experience in leading higher education institutions, and strong international academic networks is widely regarded as a crucial asset in leading AIUA during the 2026–2028 term.

Prof. Noorhaidi’s election also signifies the continuation of AIUA’s trust in Indonesian leadership. He succeeds Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, Rector of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, who served as President of AIUA for the 2024–2026 term. This leadership transition demonstrates that Indonesian Islamic higher education institutions continue to play a strategic role in shaping the direction and strengthening collaboration in Islamic higher education across Asia.

The AIUA 2026 series of events commenced with an international seminar entitled Transforming Islamic Higher Education for Advancing Global Peace, Resilience, and Inclusive Development. The seminar featured former Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, alongside academics and leaders of Islamic universities from various countries. The discussions focused on the transformation of Islamic higher education, the strengthening of cross-border research collaboration, curriculum innovation, and the contributions of Islamic universities toward promoting peace and inclusive development.

Subsequently, the Annual General Meeting served as a forum for evaluating the organization’s work programs, formulating the AIUA agenda for the 2026–2027 period, and electing new leadership, with delegates from approximately 90 member universities participating in the meeting.

Meanwhile, in his inaugural speech as President of AIUA, Prof. Noorhaidi emphasized that the organization under his leadership must serve as a driving force for improving the quality of Islamic higher education across Asia.

“This meeting will serve as a platform for enhancing research quality and strengthening international recognition. With 90 member institutions across Asia, AIUA has tremendous potential to produce outstanding research and morally grounded graduates who are ready to contribute to civilization,” he stated.

He stated that AIUA’s strength lies not merely in the size of its membership, but in its ability to foster collaborations that generate tangible impacts on the advancement of knowledge and the progress of society. Therefore, his leadership will focus on strengthening collaborative research, enhancing faculty and student mobility, developing joint scientific publications, and expanding international recognition for Islamic universities across Asia.

For Prof. Noorhaidi, leading AIUA is not about the role of a single president, but about the ability of all members to move forward with a shared vision. He believes that the organization’s strength resides in the cross-border collaborations that have been built over the years.

On this basis, he expressed his appreciation to all AIUA members, particularly the General Secretariat based at Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS), Malaysia.

“I would like to thank all members, especially the Secretary General at USAS Malaysia, who have been the backbone of the organization. Without cooperation and shared commitment, AIUA would not have developed to where it is today,” he said.

The meeting of leaders of Islamic universities across Asia resulted in an agreement to strengthen cross-border collaboration, enhance the quality of joint research, and expand the international recognition of Islamic universities as part of efforts to address global challenges.

For UIN Sunan Kalijaga, the mandate now entrusted to Prof. Noorhaidi represents more than merely the personal achievement of a rector. This trust reflects the university’s growing position in the landscape of international Islamic higher education and further underscores the contribution of Indonesian Islamic universities as strategic partners in shaping the future of education, knowledge, and civilization in Asia.