As part of welcoming new students of the Master’s Program in Islamic Economics (MES) while continuously fostering global academic engagement for continuing students, the MES Program organized an International Public Lecture featuring an international expert in Islamic economics. The lecture was held on Friday, November 7, 2025, as part of the Islamic Economic Consortium (IEC) series, under the theme “Advancing Maqashid, Governance, and the Green Economy: Transforming Institutions from Local Communities to Global Markets.”
The event took place at the Theatrical Room of the Library of UIN Sunan Kalijaga and was also conducted online via Zoom, attended by lecturers, students, and participants from various universities in Indonesia and abroad.

In his opening remarks, Muhammad Ghafur Wibowo, S.E., M.Sc., Head of the Master’s Program in Islamic Economics, emphasized that ideas are the seeds of future sustainability. He noted that even simple ideas can lead to significant transformations that bring maslahah (public benefit) to society. He further underlined the importance of cultivating critical and creative thinking among students so that they are able to offer innovative solutions to global economic challenges while remaining grounded in Islamic principles.

The event was officially opened by Dr. Ibi Satibi, S.H.I., M.Si., Vice Dean III of the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business, representing the Dean of FEBI UIN Sunan Kalijaga, who was unable to attend.

In his address, he reflected on the historical trajectory of Indonesia’s economy, from the post-independence era to the present day, highlighting the increasing complexity of contemporary economic challenges. He stressed that the development of Islamic economics in Indonesia constitutes an integral part of national development, and that initiatives such as IEC are expected to serve as platforms for generating new ideas that are responsive to societal needs and aligned with the values of maqashid al-shariah.

The program continued with presentation sessions delivered by international and national speakers. The first speaker, Madam Jilila Youmni from Universitas Ezzitouna, Tunisia, shared an inspiring personal narrative of her professional journey from working in conventional institutions to engaging in the field of Islamic economics. She highlighted that, despite balancing her roles as a wife and a professional woman, her endeavors were sustained through faith and divine guidance. Her presentation emphasized the importance of sincerity, commitment, and dedication in pursuing knowledge and career paths aligned with Islamic values.

The second speaker, Bima Yudhistira Adhinegara, M.Sc., Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) Indonesia, delivered a presentation entitled “Revisiting Indonesia’s Development Direction.” He invited participants to critically reassess national development policies to ensure that they support equitable and sustainable economic growth, in line with green economy principles and Islamic ethical values.

This international public lecture was the result of collaboration between the Master’s Program in Islamic Economics at UIN Sunan Kalijaga and several partner institutions, including the Master’s Program in Islamic Economics at IAIN Bangka Belitung; the Islamic Economics Program of STAI Nahdlatul Wathan Samawa, Sumbawa Besar; STAI Darussalam Lampung; the Islamic Economics Program of Universitas Muhammadiyah Kudus; and the Islamic Banking Program of Universitas Potensi Utama Medan.

With the conclusion of this event, it is hoped that all participants gained renewed enthusiasm and inspiration to further develop Islamic economics grounded in the values of maqashid al-shariah and oriented toward the broader public good.