Depok – The Faculty of Islamic Studies (FIS), Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII), marked a historic milestone during its 2026 Judicium Ceremony, celebrating the graduation of 57 students across its graduate programs. This year’s ceremony was particularly significant as it honored the first-ever graduates of the PhD in Islamic Studies, alongside the final cohort of the MA in Islamic Studies Specializing in Classical Islam.
The graduating class comprised 23 students from the MA in Islamic Studies, 24 students from the MA in Islamic Studies Specializing in Classical Islam, and 10 students from the PhD in Islamic Studies.
Opening the ceremony, Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies Prof. Yanwar Pribadi congratulated the graduates for their perseverance and academic accomplishments. He also announced that this would be the final graduating cohort of the MA in Islamic Studies Specializing in Classical Islam, as the program has now evolved into the MA in Turats Islam, which is expected to produce its first graduates next year.
One of the defining moments of the ceremony was the celebration of the first ten PhD graduates in Islamic Studies, marking a new chapter in the development of Islamic higher education at UIII. The achievement reflects the faculty’s commitment to nurturing advanced scholarship and producing researchers capable of contributing to global conversations on Islam, Muslim societies, Turats Islam, Digital Humanities, etc.
The ceremony was attended by the Rector of UIII, Prof. Jamhari, who delivered an emotional address to the graduates and faculty members. He expressed his appreciation to professors, lecturers, and academic staff for their dedication to guiding students throughout their academic journey, and thanked the graduates for entrusting UIII with their higher education. “You are my beloved students. You are my beloved sons and daughters,” he said.
Another notable highlight of this year’s Judicium was the outstanding achievement of the MA in Islamic Studies Specializing in Classical Islam. Among its graduates, nine students completed their final projects in the form of taḥqīq (critical editions of classical Islamic manuscripts), demonstrating the program’s strong emphasis on preserving and advancing the Islamic manuscript tradition.
The taḥqīq projects involved rigorous philological work, including manuscript identification, textual comparison, annotation, and critical editing, contributing to the preservation and accessibility of the rich intellectual heritage of the Muslim world. This achievement underscores UIII’s growing role as a regional center for Islamic manuscript studies and the study of turāth (Islamic intellectual heritage).
The ceremony continued with the formal reading of the Judicium decree by Dr. Zezen Zaenal Mutaqin, Head of the MA in Islamic Studies Program, and Prof. Syamsul Rijal, Head of the PhD in Islamic Studies Program, followed by the academic excellence awards recognizing outstanding achievements in academics, research, publications, and community engagement.
The ceremony concluded with speeches from representatives of each program, Muhammad Khamis Ahmad, Sultan, and Musa Al Kadzim, who reflected on the challenges, friendships, and intellectual growth they experienced throughout their studies. Speaking on behalf of their peers, they expressed heartfelt gratitude to faculty members, professors, staff, and families whose unwavering support had made their academic journey possible.
As the Faculty of Islamic Studies celebrates these milestones, the 2026 Judicium Ceremony stands as a testament to UIII’s continued commitment to academic excellence, the advancement of Islamic scholarship, and the preservation of the rich intellectual traditions of the Muslim world.