Palu (UIN Datokarama Palu’s PR) – Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Datokarama Palu is set to host the even semester graduation ceremony for undergraduate (S1) and Postgraduate (S2-S3) students of the 2022/2023 academic year on Thursday, August 7, 2023, at the Auditorium of Campus I, UIN Palu.
Professor Abidin, the coordinator of the graduation event, disclosed that a total of 698 students would be graduating. This includes 317 students from the Faculty of Education and Teacher Training (FTIK), 91 from the Faculty of Ushuluddin, Adab, and Dakwah (FUAD), 56 from the Faculty of Sharia (FASYA), 183 from the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business (FEBI), 42 from the Master’s program, and 9 from the Doctoral program.
“Yesterday, there were several more students who underwent graduation, but they had already entered the odd semester. These 698 students have been prioritized for graduation ceremony as their graduation falls within the even semester,” Prof. Abidin added.
According to him, the preparations for the graduation ceremony have reached 98 percent as of one day before the event. The remaining preparations are mainly technical matters. Due to the large number of participants, with 698 graduates multiplied by two, the auditorium cannot accommodate everyone, so some guests and companions will be seated in the area next to the auditorium.
As the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and Institutional Development, he advised the graduates to hold firmly to the knowledge they have acquired during their studies and apply it to benefit society.
“Complete your undergraduate knowledge by continuing with further studies in master’s and doctoral programs. You do not need to go far, because our campus has provided undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees, and after that you can serve on the UIN Palu campus,” Prof. Abidin urged.
Meanwhile, the Rector of UIN Datokarama Palu, Professor Dr. H. Sagaf S. Pettalongi, emphasized that this graduation ceremony should not be seen merely as a ceremonial release event for alumni from their Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programs. Instead, it represents responsibility of UIN Palu as the educational institution that has shaped the character of its students at all academic levels, from Bachelor’s to Doctoral, which is publicly accountable to society.
Alumni of UIN Palu are continually reminded to adhere to and implement the vision and mission of university, which is to develop moderate Islamic studies based on the integration of knowledge, spirituality, and local wisdom. In essence, all UIN Palu graduates are expected to demonstrate moderate ways of thinking, behaving, and practicing religion in society and serve as role models within their communities.
“I often say that UIN alumni are graduates of a moderate campus, especially in terms of religious understanding, as that is our primary reference,” explained Prof. Sagaf.
He exemplified the concept of moderate Islam as one that encourages understanding and harmony among different religious groups, much like what Prophet Muhammad achieved in Makkah and Madinah. In Makkah, he faced severe opposition, while in Madinah, he lived alongside approximately five or six different religions in peace, respecting religious, linguistic, and ethnic differences.
“Therefore, with the concept of moderate Islam, UIN Palu alumni must be problem solvers in society, providing solutions rather than creating discord or developing immoderate ways of practicing religion, whether in the context of extreme left or extreme right understandings,” he stated.
Additionally, due to the current political climate, Prof. Sagaf hopes that UIN Datokarama Palu’s alumni, whether from Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral programs, will be able to contribute to the democratic process by creating a conducive atmosphere.
In connection with the earlier emphasis on moderation, he highlighted that UIN alumni should not serve as instruments for steering society toward identity politics, as politics rooted in identity, especially religion, is highly susceptible to friction and division.
“All political parties inevitably include various religions within them, and when one party brings up a specific religion, it becomes very vulnerable to conflict, disharmony, and even possible friction in the future,” he concluded.