Mojokerto – The 4th Brave! program organized by Global Engagement of Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya (Genus) conducts a cultural and entrepreneurial visit to Riyadlul Jannah Islamic Boarding School in Pacet, Mojokerto, as well as the Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Ekonomi Syariah Riyadul Jannah (STIES), which is also under the management of Riyadlul Jannah Islamic Boarding School, on Tuesday (27/8).
During this visit, Brave participants are introduced to the life and culture of pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) in Indonesia. They gain an in-depth understanding of the pesantren education system, which not only focuses on religious studies but also provides opportunities for students (santri) to pursue higher education. One of the unique strengths of Indonesian pesantren is its ability to integrate religious studies with formal education, allowing students to attend university while living at the pesantren.
The visit also marks the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya (Unusa) and Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Ekonomi Syariah Riyadul Jannah Pacet. This strategic partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in education and student development. Dr. Ubaidillah Zuhdi, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Business, and Digital Technology (FEBTD) at Unusa, and Agus Zain, Lc., M.E., Vice-Chairman of Student Affairs at STIES Riyadlul Jannah, play key roles in formalizing the agreements.
This cooperation reflects the commitment of both institutions to enhance the academic and non-academic potential of their students. The MoU and MoA not only symbolize formal agreements but also open opportunities for deeper and more sustainable collaboration in the future.
Moreover, the participants are introduced to various entrepreneurial programs offered at the pesantren. These programs aim to equip santri with entrepreneurial skills they can use in the future. Riyadlul Jannah Islamic Boarding School is particularly known for its innovative programs that support students in developing independent businesses.
Syiddatul Budury, S.Kep.Ns., M.Kep., Head of the Cooperation and Alumni Subdivision, emphasized that this visit is part of Unusa’s efforts to introduce Indonesia’s cultural diversity to the international community. “We hope that the Brave participants can bring back experiences and knowledge about pesantren culture and entrepreneurship in Indonesia to their home countries,” she said.
The event is warmly received by the Brave participants, who are impressed by the pesantren culture and the entrepreneurial spirit instilled in its students. They also appreciate the uniqueness of pesantren as an educational institution that not only strengthens religious knowledge but also hones various skills to prepare a highly competitive generation.
Through this initiative, Genus continues to demonstrate its commitment to developing inclusive and globally-oriented education while preserving local religious and cultural values. (nrl/humas)