RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Four Indonesian Islamic universities entered the world’s top rankings in religious studies based on SCImago 2026. The achievement was highlighted by Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs in Jakarta on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The ranking refers to the SCImago Institutions Rankings by Subject.

State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta ranked seventh globally in the religious studies category. It placed three positions above Harvard University in the same field.

This marks a milestone for Indonesia’s Islamic higher education globally. Three other State Islamic Universities also achieved strong global positions in the ranking.

UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh ranked 14th worldwide in the same category. UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta ranked 21st, followed by UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung at 25th.

The SCImago ranking is based on research performance, innovation, and social impact indicators. Research performance contributes 50 percent, innovation 30 percent, and social impact 20 percent. The assessment relies on internationally indexed publications and citation data.

Director General of Islamic Education at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Suyitno, highlighted the achievement. He said it reflects long-term and consistent efforts in advancing State Islamic Religious College (PTKIN) internationalization.

He then explained the significance of global recognition. “This achievement is a real form of international recognition of PTKIN quality. It shows that strategic steps we have taken, including strengthening reputable publications, cross-border research collaboration, and improving academic capacity, have gained global acknowledgment,” he said.

He affirmed that the achievement should not remain symbolic for Indonesian Islamic higher education. He said it must serve as a foundation to expand global networks and contributions.

He then outlined expectations for future development. “In the future, PTKIN must continue strengthening its role as a center of excellence in moderate, inclusive, and globally competitive Islamic studies, so its presence is increasingly felt not only nationally but also globally,” he conveyed.

Director of Islamic Higher Education, Sahiron, also expressed appreciation for the achievement. He said the results prove PTKIN can compete globally through research and collaboration. He then stressed the importance of sustained strategy.

“This achievement is not only proud, but also a strong indicator of the success of PTKIN internationalization strategies. We see how improved research quality and global networks significantly impact academic reputation internationally,” he said.