Darunnajah and UIT Lirboyo Sign MoU to Strengthen Pesantren-Based Higher Education
Universitas Darunnajah (UDN) Jakarta and Universitas Islam Tribakti (UIT) Lirboyo Kediri signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on academic cooperation at the UIT Lirboyo Senate Room in Kediri, East Java, on Friday (12/6/2026). The agreement marks a strengthening of synergy between two higher education institutions both rooted in the pesantren tradition.
The MoU was signed by the President of Universitas Darunnajah, KH Dr. Sofwan Manaf, and the Rector of UIT Lirboyo, Dr. KH Reza Ahmad Zahid. The event was attended by leaders from both universities, including vice rectors, the Director of Postgraduate Studies, and academic staff.
In his remarks, Sofwan Manaf stated that the visit to Lirboyo was intended to strengthen ties and build collaboration for the development of pesantren-based higher education. ‘Our intention in coming to Universitas Islam Tribakti is to foster friendship and seek blessings. We came to learn,’ said the alumnus of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor.
He explained that Universitas Darunnajah was officially established in 2022 through the merger of several colleges under the Darunnajah Foundation. Currently, the Darunnajah network comprises 23 pesantren campuses spread across various regions, with total productive waqf land assets of approximately 1,228 hectares.
According to KH Sofwan, the cooperation with UIT Lirboyo is expected to expand into various fields, including academics, business economics, and health. ‘Hopefully, all of this will bring blessings and progress for the religion and the Muslim community,’ he said.
Meanwhile, UIT Lirboyo Rector KH Reza Ahmad Zahid emphasised that his campus is closely linked to the Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School and carries the motto ‘From Pesantren for the Nation’. UIT currently manages 17 study programmes, with the majority of students coming from pesantren backgrounds.
According to Reza, in addition to emphasising academic mastery, UIT also maintains pesantren traditions through comprehensive examinations in reading classical Islamic texts and mastery of Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah principles for prospective graduates. ‘We are merely continuing the traditions and culture of our forebears,’ he said.
Through the signing of this MoU, both institutions agreed to explore more operational cooperation through a Cooperation Agreement in the fields of academic development, research, Islamic outreach, and internationalisation. The collaboration is expected to strengthen the role of pesantren-based Islamic higher education institutions in delivering education that is competitive, character-driven, and relevant to contemporary needs.