The Faculty of Islamic Studies (FDI) remains committed to enhancing student competencies through various innovations. One key initiative is the strategic collaboration with the Islamic and Arabic College of Indonesia (LIPIA), an educational institution affiliated with Imam Muhammad bin Saud University in Saudi Arabia, where Arabic is the medium of instruction. This meeting aims to implement the "Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka" (MBKM) curriculum, as outlined by government directives.

On Thursday, September 19, 2024, representatives from both institutions convened at the LIPIA campus. Dean of FDI, Dr. Yuli Yasin, MA, along with the FDI faculty leadership and heads of the undergraduate program, were welcomed by Dr. Waleed bin Abdullah al-Utsman, Dean of LIPIA, and his team. During this meeting, both sides discussed the strategic direction of their collaboration and reached several key agreements.

Among the significant outcomes is the launch of a student exchange program between FDI and LIPIA, aligned with the MBKM policy, which grants students the freedom to study outside their campus. This program is slated to begin in the second semester of the 2024/2025 academic year. FDI students enrolled in MBKM will have the opportunity to take courses such as Balaghah, Adab wa Naqd, and Nushus Adabiyyah at LIPIA.

Moreover, the meeting introduced a new program titled “Nadi Thullab,” a student-sharing program designed to strengthen Arabic language skills while fostering an active, dynamic Arabic-speaking environment. The program aims to encourage FDI students further to use Arabic at an advanced level.

In addition, Dean Al-Utsman promised to provide FDI students with open access to LIPIA’s library facilities. This resource is expected to broaden students' academic horizons and enrich their intellectual development by offering a wealth of references.