Religious Affairs Minister: UIN Palu must add 20 professors, enhance academic quality

We hope that Islamic Religious Higher Education Institutions (PTKIN) continue to develop and advance in terms of institutional quality, the quantity of students, and the quantity of lecturers.

Palu (ANTARA) - Religious Affairs Minister (Menag) Nasaruddin Umar stated that the Datokarama State Islamic University (UIN) in Palu, Central Sulawesi, must add around 20 professors by 2027 to accelerate the enhancement of academic quality.

“The aim is to improve human resources (HR) and institutional transformation,” said Menag Nasaruddin Umar during the inauguration of two professors at UIN Datokarama in Palu on Sunday.

Menag stated that the rector needs to assist academics in accelerating the attainment of professorial titles, as a greater number of professors provides strategic advantages that impact academic quality, reputation, and institutional development.

In terms of reputation and academic development, he continued, a large number of professors has a positive impact on the accreditation assessment for a higher education institution.

Menag noted that the number of professors at UIN Datokarama currently stands at 11 and is expected to continue increasing along with the addition of study programmes.

Furthermore, he expressed that professors must be able to integrate or blend knowledge and remembrance (of God) for spiritual depth that transcends cognitive intelligence.

“A professor is the pinnacle of academic achievement for formal knowledge seekers. But do not forget, above the sky there is still the sky, meaning that exemplary conduct and humility must be firmly upheld,” said Menag Nasaruddin Umar.

“What the Minister desires aligns with our vision. I also urge lecturers to enhance their disciplinary capacity by returning to school to pursue doctoral degrees,” he said.

At the event, two UIN Datokarama lecturers were inaugurated as professors: Prof Dr Rusli Takunas M.Pd as professor in the field of Multicultural Islamic Education and Prof Dr H Askar M.Pd as professor in the field of Islamic Educational Thought.