Building Civilisation Begins on Campus

Amidst political turmoil, a global economic slowdown, technological disruption, climate crises, and prolonged geopolitical conflicts, a fundamental question deserves to be asked: from where is the civilisation of the future truly built? Some will point to the state, parliament, or the market as the main actors. Others believe that change is born from economic strength, technological advancement, or military superiority. All of these play important roles. However, history shows that enduring civilisations almost always begin in spaces of knowledge. It is from these spaces that ideas, values, and leadership emerge, which then move society. No great civilisation has grown without universities, madrasas, academies, or centres of learning at its heart. Athens produced philosophers who shaped the foundations of Western thought. Baghdad during the Abbasid era made the Bayt al-Hikmah a centre for translation, research, and scientific innovation. Cordoba presented an intellectual tradition that brought together Islam, Judaism, and Christianity in scholarly dialogue. Al-Azhar has been a reference point for global Islamic thought for over a thousand years. All of these demonstrate a single pattern: civilisation flourishes when knowledge holds an honourable place in public life. Indonesia possesses no less significant capital. For more than six decades, State Islamic Religious Universities (PTKIN) have produced millions of alumni now spread across almost every sector of life. They serve as religious scholars, judges, academics, bureaucrats, diplomats, teachers, politicians, journalists, activists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders in various regions. This extensive network is, in fact, one of the nation’s strategic strengths that has not been fully recognised as an asset for national development. The success of universities is often measured by internal academic indicators, such as accreditation, the number of scientific publications, ranking improvements, or graduation rates. These metrics are important as they reflect the quality of academic governance. However, they are not sufficient to describe the extent to which a campus can change society through its ideas and its alumni. A university is not merely a place to produce graduates. It is a space for character building, a leadership laboratory, and a centre for generating ideas that influence the direction of the nation. When a student graduates, the campus’s service journey truly enters its next chapter. The reputation of a university is ultimately determined not only by what is taught in the lecture hall, but also by the tangible contributions of its alumni in addressing societal problems. In this context, alumni become the extended arm of the campus in the public sphere. Through them, academic values are transformed into policy, public service, social innovation, and leadership that benefits the wider community. The relationship between a university and its alumni, therefore, cannot be understood as a ceremonial bond that ends with reunions or nostalgic events. This relationship is an intellectual partnership that continues throughout life.