YOGYAKARTA – The Islamic Religious Education (PAI) Study Program, Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training (FITK), UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, held a dissolution and evaluation meeting for the committee of the 1st Kalijaga International Conference on Islamic Education (KAICIE) 2026 on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the conference, review reports from each division, and formulate recommendations for improving future international academic events.

During the evaluation, the committee reported that KAICIE 2026 had received positive responses from participants both in Indonesia and abroad. Based on participant satisfaction reports, registration services and hotel services received highly positive assessments. Participants also expressed high levels of satisfaction with the conference’s value and facilities. Some participants recommended including a city tour in future events to introduce Yogyakarta’s cultural attractions and local potential to conference attendees.

Regarding academic publishing, the journal committee reported that the publication process had been well accommodated and had received positive responses. Nevertheless, the evaluation highlighted the need to allocate sufficient time for the review process. Article submissions and conference proceedings should also be prepared earlier to ensure a more organized publication process and maintain the quality of the published articles.

The evaluation meeting continued with reports from each committee division. In administration and secretarial affairs, the committee emphasized the importance of more structured coordination in managing correspondence, verifying documents, and distributing information. Internal communication also needs to be strengthened to ensure that all committee members understand the progress of activities and their respective responsibilities.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of considering the needs of participants and speakers, including prayer times during the conference schedule. This was recognized as part of ensuring the comfort of all attendees while maintaining appropriate values and conduct in an academic setting.

Overall, the evaluation produced several recommendations for future KAICIE conferences. These included extending the preparation period to approximately eight months, strengthening communication and coordination, clarifying task assignments, preparing technical and administrative requirements well in advance, and planning funding more carefully. The evaluation also provided committee members with an opportunity to learn from their experiences throughout the preparation and implementation of the conference.

The dissolution of the KAICIE 2026 committee marked not only the conclusion of its responsibilities but also an important stage of collective learning. Organizing an international conference provided valuable experience for committee members in event management, communication, problem-solving, and collaboration across divisions.

Through this meeting, the PAI Study Program at FITK UIN Sunan Kalijaga hopes that the achievements and evaluation findings of KAICIE 2026 will serve as a foundation for future conferences that are better prepared, more coordinated, and more professional, while further expanding the contribution of Islamic education to national and international academic forums.

(Muhammad Zakariyya)