Depok, West Java – On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Institut SEBI convened its Semester Ganjil Faculty Meeting in the main conference room of its campus. The meeting served as a strategic forum aimed at enhancing collaboration among educators in response to the challenges facing higher education, while aligning visions to cultivate a generation excelling in economics, business, and Islamic finance.
In his opening remarks, the Rector of Institut SEBI, Dr. Sigit Pramono, announced significant new developments for the campus, including a mandate from the government through the Ministry of Manpower to establish a Vocational Training Center (Balai Latihan Kerja or BLK). He emphasized that the BLK will provide numerous benefits, such as improving community access to vocational training, expanding national training capacities, enhancing the quality of human resources, and encouraging public participation in training programs. "This BLK will not only serve the general public but also enhance the technological competencies of SEBI students," he asserted.
Additionally, Dr. Pramono highlighted the construction of a modern library funded by the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH). He expressed aspirations for the library to become a center of Islamic knowledge, akin to the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, led by Professor Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas. “We aim to make this library an epicenter of Islamic knowledge that can foster a new intellectual civilization,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Dr. Sepky Mardian, underscored the importance of digitalizing teaching materials as part of SEBI's learning transformation. He noted that this faculty meeting also served as a platform for evaluating and disseminating the latest academic policies, including options for final projects for undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduates now have various pathways to complete their studies, including thesis, scientific publications in accredited journals, cross-concentration courses, independent studies, and internship reports. Graduate students can choose between thesis, independent study, or scientific publications based on SINTA rankings, all of which must be defended before a panel of faculty examiners.
During the meeting, Ahmad Baehaqi, Director of the SEBI Islamic Business and Economics Research Center (SIBER-C), emphasized the importance of forming research groups as part of the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education. This initiative was formalized through Rector's Decree No. 308/REKTOR/B.08/IAI SEBI/IX/2025 regarding the establishment of research groups. The output from these groups is expected to include not only scholarly publications but also practical innovations, policy briefs, and strengthened national and international networks.
With these new policies, Institut SEBI reaffirms its commitment to innovate in education, expand research contributions, and create an academic ecosystem responsive to societal needs and global developments.