Record-Breaking! Thousands of International Applicants from 50 Countries Compete for the Rector's Scholarship!

On Monday (16/6/2025), UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta organized an online technical meeting to discuss the technical implementation of the Academic Potential Test (Wednesday, 19 June 2025) and Interview (24–27 June 2025) for prospective recipients of the Rector's Scholarship for the 2025/2026 academic year. This event was attended by Dr. K.H. Abdulloh Faishol, M.Hum. (Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Alumni, and Cooperation), Dr. Hafidah, S.Ag., M.Ag. (Head of the Quality Assurance Institute), and Wildi Adila, MA. (Head of the Center for International Relations). A total of 1,524 applicants from 50 countries in Asia and Africa participated in this selection, making it one of the most competitive scholarship programs in the history of international student admissions at UIN Surakarta. This achievement results from a strategic collaboration between UIN Surakarta and various Indonesian Embassies, through the Education and Cultural Attachés in several partner countries.

In his remarks, the Vice Rector III congratulated the 400 selected candidates who had passed the document selection process. "You are the chosen ones. Prepare well for the test, and I hope you achieve the results you've been striving for," he said. The technical meeting continued with a technical presentation by Wildi, Head of the Center for International Relations, covering the online exam process, interview techniques, the assessment system, and an introduction to the BIPA (Indonesian for Foreign Speakers) program, which is part of the academic and social adaptation process for international students on campus. The BIPA program will be held online two months before departure and continues offline for at least one semester on the UIN Surakarta campus.

On the same occasion, Dr. Hafidah, S.Ag., M.Ag. as the Head of the Quality Assurance Institute (LPM) emphasized the strategic position of UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta as a state Islamic university accredited "Excellent" nationally, and is in the process of achieving international recognition through global rankings such as Times Higher Education (THE), QS World University Rankings, UniRank, and EduRank. Located in the heart of Surakarta City—a city rich in Javanese cultural heritage and spirituality—UIN Surakarta offers an inclusive and dynamic learning environment. It is a center of interconnection with other major campuses. This makes Surakarta an ideal academic destination for international students who want to develop their academic potential while expanding their cross-cultural understanding in an inspiring atmosphere. (PHI)