uin-suska.ac.id . Located in the rectorate building, 4th floor, Leadership Meeting Room, the leader of the Attarkiah Islamiah Institute, Dr. Phaisan Toryib along with 7 delegates were warmly welcomed by the Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Cooperation, Prof. Edi Erwan, S. PT., MSc., Ph.D., Dr. Amirah Diniaty, M.Kons who represented the Dean of the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training (FTK), and Dr. Lestari Handayani, as the Head of the International Office with the Cooperation Team. This welcome is not only a friendly visit, but most importantly, it is a follow-up to the academic cooperation that has been built since 2006.
In his remarks, Prof. Edi Erwan, S. PT., MSc., Ph.D. said that “Academic Cooperation between UIN Suska Riau and Attarkiah Islamiah Institute has been running optimally, especially for further studies by students in a number of study programs (Islam), have become alumni and serve as teachers at the institution”. Although in the last few years the realization of cooperation has been hampered by Covid-19, today’s academic visit has yielded positive results.
As conveyed by Dr. Phaisan Toryib, “UIN Suska Riau is the main destination for alumni of Attarkiah Islamiah Institute to study religious knowledge, and it is proven that its alumni are able to play a role as religious teachers, role models for the community and moderates. Most of them teach in Islamic schools in Southern Thailand, Bangkok and Phuket”. Not only that, “UIN Suska Riau alumni are also religious figures who are broad-minded, adaptive and become an attraction for local people to study Islam and become devout Muslims”, said Phaisan.
The discussion also continued with the offer of Field Experience Practice (PPL) program, Real Work Lecture (KKN), Community Service, guest lecturers and other programs at the Attarkiah Islamiah Institute. Welcoming this offer, Dr. Amirah Diniaty, M.Kons, the Vice Dean for Student Affairs and Cooperation, explained that, “FTK has successfully carried out the PPL program to Islamic schools in Southern Thailand, and in 2024 a similar program will also be continued. The FTK leadership and the ranks of the Head of Study Programs together with the PPL Committee have prepared the best students to take part in PPL Abroad, and 5 students will be placed at the Attarkiah Islamiah Institute for 3 months.”
In addition to PPL, a number of lecturers are also being prepared to carry out community service activities abroad. “Several schools, Muslim communities, and campuses have been selected and made the location of community service activities this year,” said Amirah. The Attarkiah Islamiah Institute is also advised to submit programs, types of activities, duration and others, so that there is a mutually beneficial collaboration. The lecturers who will be sent to carry out community service in Southern Thailand are also selected according to the needs of the community and related parties.
In addition to the programs that are a joint commitment to be realized, UIN Suska Riau also opens opportunities to accept new students for the 2024/2025 Academic Year, especially from alumni of the Attarkiah Islamiah Institute. “The increase in the number of foreign students at UIN Suska Riau is a manifestation of the achievement of the internationalization of higher education in addition to strengthening diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Thailand through the education sector,” concluded Edi Erwan.
