Ankara, May 26, 2025 — The International Congress titled “Restructuring Higher Education in Turkiye: Innovations, Problems, and Solution Proposals” was held by the Turkish Educators’ Union at the Memur-Sen Confederation headquarters in Ankara, Turkiye. The two-day event (May 26–27) brought together prominent education experts and policymakers from various countries.
During the congress, the President of UNIDA Gontor, Prof. Amal Fathullah Zarkasyi, presented UNIDA’s experience in developing a unique boarding system university. This system, rooted in the pesantren tradition, has proven effective in producing graduates who are both adaptable to contemporary challenges and capable of thriving in a fast-changing world. In his capacity as Vice President of the Union of Afro-Asia Universities, Prof. Amal also emphasized the importance of cross-border university cooperation to enhance the quality of higher education and produce graduates who contribute positively to national development.
Meanwhile, UNIDA Gontor’s Rector, Prof. Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi, began his presentation by highlighting several pressing issues currently faced by higher education institutions. These include low-quality graduate outcomes, lack of preparedness for the job market, weak soft skills, and non-comprehensive curricula. According to him, one key solution is the systematic cultivation of 21st-century soft skills. Prof. Hamid then shared UNIDA’s experience in fostering these competencies through a holistic education approach within the boarding system university
“In our boarding system university,” he explained, “faculty members and students actively interact within a learning environment grounded in Islamic values and pesantren traditions. This creates a highly conducive educational atmosphere. Students are not only engage in academic activities but also actively participate in extracurricular programs that develop their soft skills.” He further elaborated that the university’s curriculum is comprehensively designed, integrating formal, informal, and even hidden curricula. The presentation drew strong interest from all congress participants, who expressed appreciation for the holistic and values-based approach implemented at UNIDA Gontor.
Delegates of UNIDA Gontor
In addition to attending the congress, UNIDA Gontor delegation—which includes President (Prof. Amal Fathullah Zarkasyi), Rector (Prof. Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi), Deputy Dean of Medical Faculty (Ahmad Saifulloh, PhD) and Head of the Medical Education Program (dr. Ilyu ‘Ainun Najie’, M.Kes)—will visit several universities across Turkiye. The focus of this visit is to initiate academic cooperation, particularly in the field of medical education. [Ahmad Saifulloh]
Read more:
UNIDA Gontor Kirim Alumni Mengajar di Sekolah Binaan PSU Thailand
Dosen UNIDA Gontor Raih Gelar Doktor Terbaik di ITS 2025
