FMIPA UI Dean Promotes Synergy Between Science and Islamic Boarding Schools to Advance Education at FESSNAS 2026

Depok, October 16, 2026 – Science and Islamic boarding school education have significant potential to complement one another in shaping a generation that excels academically, thinks critically, and is equipped to address contemporary challenges. This perspective was shared by the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI), Prof. Dr. Tito Latif Indra, S.Si., M.Si., during a public lecture at the 2026 National Santri Science Festival (Festival Sains Santri Nasional, FESSNAS) held at the Auditorium of Pondok Pesantren Salafiyah Syafi’iyah Sukorejo in Situbondo, East Java, on Thursday, October 15.

At the event, Prof. Tito delivered a presentation titled “The Role of Science in the Educational Ecosystem of Islamic Boarding Schools”. He attended alongside Dicky C. Pelupessy, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Indonesia, as part of the university’s delegation.

FESSNAS 2026 was organized by the Primary and Secondary Education Division (Bidang Pendidikan Dasar dan Menengah, Dikdasmen) of Pondok Pesantren Salafiyah Syafi’iyah Sukorejo in collaboration with Universitas Indonesia. The festival provides a platform for students of Islamic boarding schools, known as santri, to develop their interest and abilities in science through competitions in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. 

Beyond serving as a competition, FESSNAS 2026 also offered learning opportunities through its Science Talkshow program, which featured public lectures. The sessions encouraged santri to broaden their understanding of scientific developments and the role of science in everyday life, including within Islamic boarding school education.

In his presentation, Prof. Tito highlighted how Islamic boarding schools are increasingly embracing scientific knowledge, including the natural sciences, as part of their educational programs. He viewed this development as a positive opportunity to enrich the learning experience of santri while bringing together the scholarly traditions of Islamic boarding schools and scientific approaches to understanding various phenomena.

“Islamic boarding schools are increasingly creating opportunities for the development of scientific knowledge, including science, as part of the educational process for santri. This is a positive development because science and Islamic boarding school education can complement and reinforce one another. Through this synergy, we can enrich scholarly traditions, encourage innovation, and prepare a generation that remains grounded in religious values while also being able to understand and respond to the challenges of our time,” said Prof. Tito.

He also explained that science involves systematic inquiry into natural phenomena through methods that are logical, measurable, and testable. Scientific understanding, he emphasized, should extend beyond acquiring knowledge to applying it in addressing real-world challenges faced by society.

“Science is knowledge, or a system and process of inquiry, for understanding natural phenomena and other matters through systematic, logical, measurable, and testable methods,” he explained.

Furthermore, integrating science into education aims to translate scientific knowledge into practical solutions to various challenges facing communities, the nation, and the country. In Islamic boarding school education, this approach can encourage santri to develop critical thinking, nurture curiosity, and apply scientific knowledge to generate ideas and innovations that benefit their surrounding communities.

For FMIPA UI, connecting science with Islamic boarding school education presents an opportunity to extend the benefits of scientific knowledge to a broader segment of society. With its academic strengths, research capabilities, global networks, and commitment to the Three Pillars of Higher Education (Tridharma Perguruan Tinggi), FMIPA UI is well positioned to promote scientific development that extends beyond universities and delivers meaningful benefits to communities from diverse backgrounds.

This synergy is expected to be mutually enriching. Islamic boarding schools offer strong scholarly traditions and religious values, while science provides systematic approaches to understanding phenomena and developing solutions. Bringing the two together creates opportunities to enrich learning experiences, foster innovation, and expand the contribution of education to society.

Through its participation in FESSNAS 2026, FMIPA UI reaffirms its commitment to bridging the worlds of science and Islamic boarding school education. This initiative is expected to help nurture a generation grounded in strong values, open to scientific advancement, and capable of making meaningful contributions to the nation’s progress.