Bengkulu, 2024 — In a continuous effort to strengthen academic excellence and research quality in higher Islamic education, PT Islamic Research Publisher officially established a collaborative partnership with the Faculty of Sharia, Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Fatmawati Sukarno Bengkulu. The partnership focuses on enhancing students’ competence in academic writing, research methodology, and scholarly publication, particularly among students of the Islamic Family Law (HKI) Study Program.
This collaboration emerged from a shared commitment to advance the culture of academic literacy and promote high-quality research outputs that reflect both scientific rigor and Islamic ethical values. Throughout 2024, the joint program includes a series of training sessions, mentoring programs, and collaborative research initiatives aimed at preparing students to write and publish in reputable academic journals.
Promoting Academic Literacy and Research Culture
One of the primary objectives of this collaboration is to cultivate a strong academic writing culture among university students—especially those majoring in Islamic Family Law. The Faculty of Sharia recognizes that developing writing and publication skills is crucial for producing graduates who are not only intellectually competent but also capable of contributing to the discourse on Islamic law in the contemporary context.
PT Islamic Research Publisher, as an institution with extensive experience in academic publication and journal management, brings its professional expertise to guide students through the entire publication process—from conceptualizing ideas and conducting literature reviews to structuring manuscripts and responding to peer reviews.
Through this collaboration, students are encouraged to engage more actively in research-based learning. The sessions emphasize that writing is not merely an academic requirement but also a form of intellectual expression and scientific contribution. The training modules are carefully designed to cover theoretical and practical aspects of academic writing, including topic selection, logical argumentation, citation ethics, and effective communication in scholarly English.
Interactive Workshops and Mentorship
The collaborative program began with a series of intensive workshops led by professional editors and research trainers from PT Islamic Research Publisher. The workshops adopted an interactive and participatory approach, allowing students to receive direct feedback on their writing drafts and research ideas.
In addition to workshops, the program includes long-term mentoring for students preparing manuscripts for publication. The mentoring process provides one-on-one guidance and peer-review simulation sessions to help students understand journal expectations, formatting standards, and ethical publication practices.
This model ensures that the training has a lasting impact—beyond a single event—by embedding research skills and academic ethics into the students’ learning journey. Through this structured mentorship, many students have shown significant improvement in their ability to formulate research questions, analyze data, and present arguments coherently within the framework of Islamic legal studies.
Integrating Islamic Values into Academic Scholarship
A distinctive feature of this partnership is its emphasis on integrating Islamic values into academic scholarship. Both PT Islamic Research Publisher and the Faculty of Sharia share the vision that academic excellence should not be separated from ethical and spiritual consciousness.
By connecting the principles of Islamic law (maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah) with modern academic methodologies, the program inspires students to write research that not only meets scientific standards but also reflects the moral and social objectives of Islam. This approach aligns with the broader mission of UIN Fatmawati Sukarno Bengkulu to harmonize faith, knowledge, and social responsibility in higher education.
The training sessions also introduce the concept of fiqh al-ḥaḍārah (jurisprudence of civilization), encouraging students to contextualize Islamic legal studies within contemporary social realities. As a result, participants gain a more holistic understanding of how academic research can become a medium of da’wah, intellectual renewal, and social transformation.
Strengthening Institutional Collaboration and Research Networks
The collaboration between PT Islamic Research Publisher and the Faculty of Sharia represents more than a student training initiative—it also marks the beginning of a broader academic partnership between higher education institutions and professional publishing bodies. Both parties agreed to establish an ongoing framework for cooperation in research development, publication support, and academic networking.
Future programs under this partnership will include joint authorship projects, collaborative journal publications, book editing, and the organization of international conferences and symposiums focusing on Islamic law, education, and social change. This vision aligns with Indonesia’s national goal of building a globally competitive research ecosystem in Islamic higher education.
Through this partnership, UIN Fatmawati Sukarno Bengkulu aims to expand its academic presence on the international stage by increasing the visibility of its research outputs and encouraging students and lecturers alike to contribute to global scholarly discussions on Islamic law and social development.
Empowering Islamic Family Law Students
Students of the Islamic Family Law Study Program (HKI) stand at the center of this initiative. As future scholars, legal practitioners, and policymakers, they are expected to possess not only theoretical mastery of Islamic jurisprudence but also strong communication and analytical skills.
The academic writing training equips them with practical tools to articulate ideas effectively, construct persuasive arguments, and write in accordance with international academic standards. Moreover, they learn to appreciate the role of research in shaping public understanding and policy formulation within the framework of Islamic family law.
The Faculty of Sharia’s leadership expressed optimism that this collaboration would create a new generation of scholars capable of contributing meaningfully to both national and global academic discourse. The long-term goal is to foster intellectual independence and academic confidence among students, enabling them to publish research that is recognized for both quality and ethical integrity.
Commitment to Sustainable Academic Excellence
Both PT Islamic Research Publisher and the Faculty of Sharia are committed to sustaining this partnership through continuous evaluation and program development. The success of the 2024 collaboration has laid a strong foundation for future initiatives, including the establishment of a Writing and Publication Center within the faculty.
This center will serve as a hub for academic writing training, manuscript editing, and publication facilitation for students and lecturers. It is also expected to strengthen collaboration with other universities and research institutions across Indonesia and abroad.
