UKDW and Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs Forge Strategic Partnership
Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW) Yogyakarta hosted a national workshop focused on strengthening Christian religious education in Indonesia. The event, titled Workshop on Enhancing the Christian Religious Education Teacher Professional Program, was held on Friday, April 25, 2025, at UKDW’s Koinonia Auditorium, and was organized in collaboration with ANDI Publisher. The workshop gathered over 1,200 participants, including 800 Christian Religious Education (PAK) teachers from the Yogyakarta Special Region and Central Java who attended in person, and another 400 who participated online.
The event was attended by prominent figures in religious education and Christian higher education, including Dr. Jeane Marie Tulung, S.Th., M.Pd. (Director General of Christian Community Guidance, Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia), Dr.-Ing. Wiyatiningsih, S.T., M.T. (Rector of UKDW), Dr. (H.C.) J.H. Gondowijoyo (Chairman of PESAT and Founder of ANDI Publisher), Sudirman Simanihuruk (Director of Christian Religious Education), Santi Kalangi (Head of Secondary Education Division), and Antonius Lopis (Head of Primary Education Division), along with leaders from theological universities in the region and experts in the field.
In her opening remarks, UKDW Rector Dr.-Ing. Wiyatiningsih expressed gratitude for the opportunity to host such a significant educational event. “We are honored that UKDW has been entrusted to host this important workshop. We hope this collaboration will continue to grow and make a real contribution to education, especially in strengthening the role of Christian religious educators,” she said.
Director General Dr. Jeane Marie Tulung emphasized the essential role Christian religious teachers play in shaping students’ character, noting the government’s commitment to supporting their professional development. “Christian religious educators play a vital role in guiding students to live out Christian values. We are committed to supporting their capacity building through training and certification,” she affirmed.
Strategic Collaboration Formalized
On the sidelines of the workshop, UKDW signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Directorate General of Christian Community Guidance (Ditjen Bimas Kristen) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, signaling a formal commitment to strategic collaboration. The signing took place in the UKDW Rectorate Meeting Room and marked a milestone in the university’s efforts to strengthen its role as a Christian higher education institution dedicated to academic excellence and moral values.
UKDW and Ditjen Bimas Kristen agreed to enhance synergy in improving the quality of Christian religious education across the country. The meeting, marked by a spirit of collegiality and shared vision, served as a platform for aligning goals and building future cooperation.
“This moment is not a coincidence,” said Rector Wiyatiningsih. “Through this event facilitated by ANDI Publisher, we’ve been given a special opportunity to come together. We are grateful to God for enabling this MoU. May this be the beginning of many meaningful collaborations to come.”
Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Jeane Marie Tulung shared that a partnership with UKDW had long been her aspiration since her tenure as Rector of IAKN Manado. “UKDW is a distinguished Christian university that continues to attract young people for undergraduate and graduate studies. At Bimas Kristen, we need strategic partners like UKDW to help develop Christian institutions, including through strengthening human resources and academic programs,” she stated.
UKDW remains committed to building partnerships across various sectors to support national progress, particularly in education. All of its initiatives and collaborations are grounded in the university’s core values: obedience to God, walking in integrity, striving for excellence, and service to the world. This strategic partnership stands as an important step toward addressing contemporary challenges and expanding the network of cooperation between government and Christian higher education institutions. UKDW continues to position itself as an active contributor to national educational development. [humasukdw/trans.drr]
