From the discussion forum, FAI Unismuh and FTIK UIAD Sinjai Strengthen Collaboration

The Faculty of Islamic Studies (FAI) of Muhammadiyah University of Makassar (Unismuh Makassar) hosted a benchmarking visit from the Faculty of Islamic Education and Teaching (FITE) of Ahmad Dahlan University (UIAD) Sinjai in the FAI Fourth Floor of the Iqra Building, Thursday, June 18, 2026. The activity involved the deans, heads of departments, and quality assurance teams from both universities, as an effort to strengthen institutional governance, improve higher education quality, and expand academic collaboration through experience and best practice sharing.

The FITE UIAD Sinjai delegation, led by Head of the Arabic Language Education Program (PBA) Dr. Amran AR, M.Pd.I., along with several department heads and lecturers, were welcomed by the Dean of FAI Unismuh Makassar, Dr. Amirah Mawardi, S.Ag., M.Si., along with the deans and department heads of FAI.

In her welcome speech, Amirah Mawardi expressed her appreciation for the visit. She stated that benchmarking is an important tool for strengthening inter-institutional relationships and improving the management of higher education.

"Welcome to the Faculty of Islamic Studies of Muhammadiyah University of Makassar. We are honored by the visit of the FITE of Ahmad Dahlan University, Sinjai. We hope this meeting will be an opportunity for sharing experiences, exchanging ideas, and strengthening cooperation in improving the quality of faculty governance, academic development, and student services," said Amirah.

According to Amirah, universities currently face increasingly complex challenges, requiring collaboration and experience exchange between institutions. Therefore, benchmarking is considered a strategic step to strengthen institutional capacity and promote various educational innovations.

"Benchmarking is a strategic step in building networks, exchanging experiences, and strengthening the quality of higher education governance," said Amirah.

She also hopes that the meeting will not just be a ceremonial visit. FAI Unismuh, she said, is opening up broader collaboration opportunities in various fields relevant to higher education development.

"Through this activity, we hope to generate various innovations and collaboration opportunities that can benefit both institutions in facing the evolving challenges of higher education," she said.

Meanwhile, the FITE UIAD Sinjai delegation used the visit to learn about various academic management practices implemented in FAI Unismuh. They discussed faculty governance, curriculum development, and strategies for improving student services.

The Head of the PBA FITE UIAD Sinjai, Dr. Amran AR, explained that benchmarking is part of the effort to improve quality in the faculty. He stated that the experience of FAI Unismuh can be a valuable reference for the development of the institution in UIAD Sinjai.

Indirectly, Amran emphasized that collaboration and best practice exchange between campuses are necessary to meet the increasing demands for higher education quality. He stated that the discussion results will be used as a reference for evaluating and developing academic programs in FITE UIAD Sinjai.

During the forum, the heads of departments and the Quality Assurance Unit (GKM) of FAI Unismuh also presented various policies and strategies for quality assurance implemented in the faculty. The discussion covered strengthening internal quality assurance systems, curriculum management based on learning outcomes, and improving academic services.

The Head of GKM FAI Unismuh and his team also explained the continuous monitoring mechanisms for quality. This explanation attracted the attention of the benchmarking participants because it is directly related to efforts to improve accreditation and program quality.

The atmosphere of the event was warm and familiar. In addition to presentations, participants engaged in interactive discussions that allowed both institutions to share experiences, challenges, and solutions in managing higher education.

Through this benchmarking activity, the institutional relationship between FITE UIAD Sinjai and FAI Unismuh Makassar is expected to be even closer. Both institutions also open up broader opportunities for cooperation in education, research, and community service to support the sustainable improvement of higher education.