The Master’s Program in Islamic Economics (MES) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta once again achieved an international milestone through its participation in the 13th ASEAN International Conference on Islamic Finance (AICIF). The conference was held on December 3–4, 2025, at Universitas Darussalam Gontor and carried the theme “Leveraging Islamic Social Finance and Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development: Pathways to a Resilient Future.” This theme highlighted the role of digital innovation and Islamic social finance in advancing sustainable development and addressing global economic challenges. The conference was attended by academics, researchers, and practitioners in Islamic economics and finance from various ASEAN countries.

This year, AICIF was organized through collaboration among several prominent institutions, including International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) Brunei Darussalam, Mindanao State University, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Universitas Islam Sultan Agung, Universitas Darussalam Gontor, and the International Council of Islamic Finance Educators (ICIFE). The conference program comprised plenary sessions, academic discussions, and research presentations delivered by participants.

One of the sessions that attracted considerable attention was the plenary session featuring Muhammad Ghafur Wibowo, S.E., M.Sc., Head of the Master’s Program in Islamic Economics at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta. He delivered a general lecture entitled “Green Economy, Ethics, and Governance in Islamic Philanthropy.” His participation as a representative of UIN Sunan Kalijaga made a meaningful contribution to discussions on green economy principles and governance in contemporary Islamic philanthropy.

FEBI UIN Sunan Kalijaga also delegated several students to participate in this international academic forum. Among them were three students from the Master’s Program in Islamic Economics: Nala Syifa Dewanti, Alfaina Zia Inayati, and Dian Prehatin. They presented their research findings in parallel sessions and gained valuable experience through academic exchanges with participants from various countries. Their involvement reflects the faculty’s commitment to fostering global perspectives and strengthening students’ research capacity.

A notable achievement at this conference was the Best Paper Award received for a paper entitled “Integrating Halal Industry, Islamic Finance, and Digital Financial Inclusion: A Strategic Pathway to Achieving Sustainable Development Goals.” The paper was authored by Nala Syifa Dewanti and Alfaina Zia Inayati from the Master’s Program in Islamic Economics, Nabila Prihantini from the Undergraduate Program in Islamic Economics, and Lailatis Syarifa, Lc., M.A., a lecturer in the Islamic Economics Program at FEBI UIN Sunan Kalijaga. This award not only represents a significant accomplishment for the authors but also affirms the quality of research and academic mentoring within FEBI UIN Sunan Kalijaga, particularly in fostering a strong tradition of scholarly writing.

Participation in the 13th AICIF marked an important momentum for FEBI UIN Sunan Kalijaga to continue contributing to the development of Islamic economics and finance at the international level. Through forums such as this, the faculty aims to further encourage students and lecturers to produce impactful scholarly work while expanding global academic networks.