The Inter-Religious Studies Doctoral Program (IRS), Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), demonstrated its active participation in the prestigious international forum, The International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS) 2025.
This conference was organized by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and held at the Fairmont Ballroom, Raffles City, Singapore, from June 24th to 26th 2025.
Dr. Zainal Abidin Bagir, Dr. Leonard Chrysostomos Epafras, Dr. Dicky Sofjan, and Hendrikus Paulus Kaunang, M.A., represented the IRS Program as delegates at the conference. It served as a strategic forum for academics, researchers, and practitioners from various countries to explore issues concerning social cohesion in multicultural societies.
ICCS 2025 highlighted the importance of building a peaceful, just, and inclusive social order amid increasingly complex global challenges.
As a country rich in social and religious diversity, Indonesia has a significant interest in strengthening the study and practice of social cohesion.
The conference featured various interdisciplinary perspectives and approaches, offering new insights highly relevant to academic development at UGM, particularly in the IRS Doctoral Program.
The delegates participated to gain a deeper understanding of interfaith dynamics and reinforce the relevance of UGM’s academic research to global agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In addition to expanding academic knowledge, ICCS 2025 also opened up opportunities for strategic partnerships between the IRS Program and the Graduate School with various academic institutions and international organizations.
Initial communications were established, during numerous meetings and informal discussions throughout the conference, regarding potential collaborations in areas such as: joint research and scientific publications on social cohesion, interfaith relations, interreligious dialogue, and peace; academic exchange programs under international schemes; development of cross-country thematic training programs and seminars; participation in global academic forums and conferences; support for building scholarly networks focused on Southeast Asia. These opportunities affirm further UGM position as a strategic partner in advancing interdisciplinary knowledge oriented toward peace and social inclusion. These collaborations are expected to have a direct impact on institutional capacity-building, human resource quality improvement, and Indonesia’s active contribution to global knowledge diplomacy.
The participation of the IRS Program in ICCS 2025 represents a tangible manifestation of the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, especially in the aspects of education and the development of international networks.
This forum provided a strategic space for the academic community to bring the values of tolerance, diversity, and social justice to the global discourse.
Various ideas and opportunities gained from the conference will soon be followed up with subsequent meetings and concrete collaboration initiatives with partners.
UGM has consistently, through the IRS Doctoral Program, promoted the strengthening of contextual and sustainable interfaith education. Programs in religious literacy training, interfaith dialogue, and collaborative international research are part of UGM real contributions to building a cohesive and harmonious society.
Participation in ICCS 2025, with a spirit of collaboration and a global vision, underscores UGM’s commitment to remain actively involved in shaping an inclusive and competitive academic world. This activity marks a vital step in connecting local scholarship with global discourse and bridging cross-border collaborations for a better future in education and world peace.
This initiative aligns with the implementation of SDGs Goal 4 on Quality Education, Goal 5 on Gender Equality, Goal 10 on Reduced Inequality, Goal 16 on Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, and Goal 17 on Partnerships for the Goals.
Writer: Hendrikus Paulus Kaunang
Editors: Arni W