Ma'had UIN Malang Prepares Students to Become Pioneers in the Digital Era

The State Islamic University (UIN) Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang is reinforcing its position as a pioneer of higher education institutions that integrate the pesantren system with a university. The move is designed to answer the challenges of the digitalisation era by strengthening the spiritual and intellectual capabilities of its graduates. Through Ma’had Al-Jamiah Sunan Ampel al-Ali (MSAA), UIN Malang is committed to creating a balance of Emotional Quotient (EQ), Intelligence Quotient (IQ), and Spiritual Quotient (SQ) amongst students. During their first year of study, all students are required to live in dormitories to deepen their religious knowledge, becoming religious individuals with a strong moral compass. Head of the Ma’had Al-Jamiah Centre at UIN Malang, Ahmad Izzudin, stated that this integrative concept was born to address the challenges of religious education effectiveness in the modern era. The system, pioneered in 2000, has become a reference for various State Islamic Religious Higher Education Institutions (PTKIN) and madrasahs across Indonesia. ‘UIN Malang innovates by uniting two education systems in one institution. At the Ma’had, students are in their original habitat, giving them a strong foundation for living in a campus and urban environment,’ Ahmad Izzudin said. Ma’had Al-Jamiah Operational Service Staff, Mochamad Agus Nurcahyo, explained that the Ma’had is not merely a residence but a means of character building. He hopes for synergy with external parties such as Lumbung Coin Eco-Resort to realise a digital ecosystem capable of tapping into students’ talents. Director of Lumbung Coin Eco-Resort, Rosantika, assessed that the Ma’had concept is highly relevant to the needs of Generation Z. Her organisation offers a bootcamp programme as a continuation for students to achieve financial independence through digital skills in a Muslim-friendly, eco-resort environment. According to Rosantika, Lumbung Coin is designed to be Muslim-friendly, providing adapted services and facilities that align with Islamic spiritual values without erasing local culture. ‘We meet the needs of Gen Z for alternative accommodation that offers a unique, aesthetic, low-cost, and characterful stay experience which also attracts young tourists.’ In addition to functional aspects, comfort, and visual beauty, management is committed to environmental issues and sustainability to support the eco-resort concept. Lumbung provides supporting infrastructure in the form of stable Wi-Fi connectivity, ample power sockets in every seating area, and sufficient natural lighting as absolute prerequisites to support bootcamp activities and digital work. Previously, Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) approved an additional budget for the Ministry of Religious Affairs of IDR 50.10 billion, sourced from the Foreign Loan and Grant scheme, to complete the national strategic project of UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang. The approval was decided and signed during a Working Meeting agenda between the Minister of Religious Affairs and Commission VIII of the DPR RI in Senayan, Jakarta. ‘Commission VIII of the DPR RI approves the proposed additional budget for 2026 originating from foreign loans/grants for the State Islamic University Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang amounting to IDR 50,106,904,000.00,’ said Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII of the DPR RI, Abdul Wachid.