The Rector of UMSU, Prof. Dr. Agussani, M.A.P., officially sent off participants of the 8th International Conference on Islamic Studies and Social Sciences (INSIS) 2026, which will be held in Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The send-off ceremony, attended by participants from various universities, took place at the Faculty of Islamic Studies hall on Monday (March 2).
The conference will run for two days, Tuesday–Wednesday, March 24–25, 2026, at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University (IZU), Turkey. It will involve participants from five countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Turkey.
The send-off was symbolized by the draping of scarves and the handover of supporting facilities to two participant representatives: Deputy Director of Postgraduate Studies, Dr. Adi Mansar Lubis, and BPH member, Prof. Hajah Ida Hanifah.
On this occasion, Prof. Agussani expressed his appreciation for the implementation of the INSIS program. The internationalization initiative led by the Faculty of Islamic Studies (FAI) UMSU has provided strong momentum for other international programs.
“A total of more than 200 participants will join online, while around 100 will attend in person. We hope that the outcomes of this program will not merely make it an annual event, but that it will have a meaningful impact on lecturers,” he stated.
The Rector also encouraged FAI UMSU to continue developing other internationalization programs, despite the ongoing political tensions in the Middle East. He emphasized the importance of continuous monitoring of the situation.
“We hope that tensions between the US–Israel and Iran can be resolved soon, so they do not disrupt the INSIS program that has already been scheduled,” he added.
Earlier, the Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies (FAI) UMSU, Dr. Zailani, M.A., explained that INSIS 2026 is a continuation of the faculty’s ongoing efforts to advance UMSU as an internationally recognized university. In 2025, FAI UMSU held the same event at Universiti Islam Selangor (UIS), Malaysia. Both the 2025 (Malaysia) and 2026 (Turkey) INSIS events are conducted in a hybrid format, with participants attending on-site and online from various countries.
Dr. Zailani also noted that INSIS combines academic and spiritual activities. In addition to fulfilling the tri dharma of higher education—research, community service, and teaching—the program also incorporates spiritual development.
Regarding other international initiatives, Dr. Zailani highlighted that FAI UMSU has been organizing International Community Service Programs (KKN Internasional) since 2017, with continued implementation in multiple countries. “Typically, more than 100 participants join the International KKN each year. This year, 127 participants will take part, with activities held across five countries: Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.”
The expansion of International KKN destinations is expected to continue in the future, strengthening UMSU’s role as a globally oriented university.
The event was also attended by the Chairman of BPH UMSU, Dr. Bahril Datul, M.M., leaders of Muhammadiyah and Aisyiyah, approximately 100 offline INSIS participants, and more than 200 participants joining online.
