Yogyakarta, October 8, 2026 — The Kalijaga International Conference on Islamic Education (KAICIE) 2026 was successfully held on October 7–8, 2026, at Grand Rohan Yogyakarta Hotel. Under the theme “Envisioning Islamic Education for a Sustainable Future: Bridging Faith, Technology, and Global Challenges,” the international conference brought together academics, researchers, lecturers, students, and Islamic education practitioners to exchange ideas on the future of Islamic education amid sustainability challenges, technological advancements, and global transformations.

KAICIE 2026 attracted 250 participants, comprising 100 onsite and 150 online participants, representing approximately 40 universities and institutions. Participants came from six countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, and Pakistan. This international participation reflected KAICIE’s commitment to expanding academic networks and fostering cross-border collaboration in Islamic education.

The conference featured distinguished academics and education experts from Indonesia and abroad. The opening session featured three speakers: Prof. Noorhaidi, Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga; Prof. Dr. Sigit Purnama, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Teacher Training (FITK), UIN Sunan Kalijaga; and Prof. Sutrisno of UIN Sunan Kalijaga. The keynote sessions featured Prof. Ahmad Omar Chapakia of Fatoni University, Thailand; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melanie C. Brooks of Edith Cowan University, Australia; and Sheikh A. M. Mabrouk Al-Husaini of Al-Azhar University, Egypt. Academic presentations and discussions were organized into three panels, providing opportunities to exchange research findings, educational experiences, and innovative perspectives across institutions and countries.

One of the major achievements of KAICIE 2026 was its academic publication output. The organizing committee received 74 scholarly articles, which subsequently underwent a selection process conducted by the Scientific Committee. According to the Decision Letter dated October 7, 2026, 20 papers were selected as Best Papers and recommended for further processing toward publication in Scopus-indexed partner journals. The selected papers will proceed through the respective journals’ editorial processes, peer review, revisions, and publication requirements. Selection as a Best Paper therefore represents an important step toward publication but does not guarantee acceptance or publication in the target journals.

The five journal partners designated as publication destinations were Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam (JPAI), UIN Sunan Kalijaga; Jurnal Pendidikan Islam (JPI), UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung; Nazhruna; Munaddhomah; and Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun. The selected papers addressed a wide range of contemporary issues, including ecopedagogy, environmental education, gender justice, generative AI, the hidden curriculum in Islamic boarding schools, outcome-based education, big data literacy, artificial intelligence in Hadith learning, and digital leadership. These diverse topics highlighted the breadth of Islamic education research in responding to social change and technological developments.

Substantively, the conference focused on five major themes: ecotheology and environmental education; artificial intelligence and digital transformation in Islamic education; Islamic education for sustainable development; religious moderation, peace education, inclusivity, and multiculturalism; and contemporary issues in madrasahs and Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). These discussions emphasized the importance of developing Islamic education that remains grounded in Islamic values while responding effectively to global challenges.

Another historic milestone of KAICIE 2026 was the launch of The Association of Southeast Asian Islamic Education Scholars (ASIES). This initiative represents a strategic step toward strengthening academic networks among Islamic education scholars in Southeast Asia, expanding research collaboration, and encouraging knowledge exchange and scholarly publication across national boundaries. Through ASIES, KAICIE aims to grow beyond a conference for presenting research findings and become a platform for sustained academic cooperation.

The successful organization of KAICIE 2026 was made possible through the contributions of numerous parties, including keynote speakers, presenters, participants, journal partners, and the organizing committee. Their engagement and support played an important role in creating an international academic forum that facilitates intellectual exchange, broadens collaboration, and opens new opportunities for Islamic education research.

Through KAICIE 2026, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the internationalization of Islamic education through international academic conferences, expanded global networks, and improved scholarly publication quality. The participation of 250 attendees, the submission of 74 articles, and the selection of 20 Best Papers for further processing toward publication in Scopus-indexed journals represent important milestones in this effort.

KAICIE 2026 is expected to provide a foundation for broader and more sustainable academic collaboration. By bringing together Islamic values, technological innovation, environmental awareness, and global challenges, the conference seeks to strengthen the contribution of Islamic education to building a future that is inclusive, adaptive, and sustainable.(Muhammad Zakariyya)