(Yogyakarta) Fery Maulana Malik, a student of the Master’s Program in Islamic Economics at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, has been awarded the 2025 Research Scholarship from the National Board of Zakat of the Republic of Indonesia (BAZNAS RI). This achievement followed a highly competitive selection process comprising administrative screening and substantive evaluation of the research proposal.

The scholarship selection process is recognized for its rigorous standards, assessing multiple criteria including the clarity of research focus, academic contribution, and relevance to strengthening zakat governance in Indonesia. Fery’s proposal was selected after the BAZNAS assessment panel determined that the proposed research demonstrates high urgency and broad potential impact.

As part of the application process, Fery submitted letters of recommendation from two key figures. The first was from the Executive Head of BAZNAS Jember Regency, who emphasized the strong relevance of the research topic to local zakat management practices. The second recommendation was provided by Prof. Misnen Ardiyansyah, Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business (FEBI) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga and Fery’s research supervisor. Prof. Misnen highlighted the strategic contribution of the study in mapping issues related to amil productivity and the institutional effectiveness of zakat organizations.

Research Focus: Productivity in Zakat Management

Fery’s research, entitled “The Influence of Leadership Style, Work Motivation, and Human Capital on the Productivity of Zakat Management in Jember,” addresses several challenges commonly observed in zakat institutions at the regency and municipal levels. These include variations in leadership styles that directly affect managerial effectiveness, levels of work motivation among amil influencing service quality and productivity, and disparities in human capital capacity—particularly in terms of professional competence, educational background, and work experience.

These factors are considered to contribute to the gap between actual zakat performance and the substantial zakat potential in several regions, including Jember.

The study also examines structural challenges within zakat institutions, notably the relatively short average tenure of amil, which is commonly around five years. Such limited tenure is viewed as having implications for productivity, professionalism, and the sustainability of zakat programs.

Through this research, Fery aims to provide data-driven recommendations to strengthen zakat institutional governance, enhance the capacity of amil human resources, and support more optimal realization of national zakat potential.

Expectations and Contributions

“This research is intended to support the development of more productive and professional zakat governance. The gap between zakat potential and actual realization must be addressed by strengthening the performance and capacity of amil. Effective leadership, strong work motivation, and robust human capital are key determinants of institutional productivity,” Fery stated.

The BAZNAS RI Research Scholarship Program is expected to foster innovative ideas among young Muslim researchers. With Fery’s selection as a scholarship recipient, UIN Sunan Kalijaga once again demonstrates its role in producing academics and researchers who actively contribute to the development of Islamic economics in Indonesia.