Satya Wacana Christian University (SWCU) welcomed an international delegation from Evangelische Hochschule Hessen (EHH), Germany, and the United Evangelical Mission (UEM) during their academic visit from June 22 to July 3, 2026.
The delegation, consisting of three professors and six students from EHH, together with two representatives from UEM, participated in a collaborative program on “Religion, Social Service, and Sustainability”. The program seeks to deepen participants’ understanding of the interconnections between religion, social engagement, and sustainability within plural and multicultural societies.
As part of the program, the Faculty of Theology and the Center for the Study of Religion and Christian-Muslim Relations (CSR-CMR) at SWCU facilitated a field visit to the Tarbiyatul Islam Al Falah Islamic Boarding School (PPTI Al Falah) in Salatiga, encouraging interreligious learning and intercultural dialogue.
The delegation was warmly welcomed by the PPTI Al Falah community in an atmosphere of openness and hospitality. The welcoming event featured a traditional hadrah (Islamic devotional music, chant, or song) performance by the female students (santriwati), reflecting the pesantren’s rich cultural and religious life.
The institution drew particular attention from visitors for its predominantly female student body and women-led leadership structure.
The introduction to the pesantren was delivered by Ning Siti Rofiah, accompanied by her younger sister, Ning Siti Nur Halimah. Both are daughters of K.H. Muhammad Zoemri RWS and Nyai Hj. Lathifah Zoemri, the co-founder of PPTI Al Falah Salatiga. Their presence illustrated a distinctive model of leadership in Islamic education, where women hold central and strategic roles in institutional development.
In her presentation, Ning Siti Rofiah explained that the foundation of women’s leadership at PPTI Al Falah is rooted in the educational values instilled by her parents. From an early age, she and her sister were given equal opportunities to learn, express themselves, and develop their potential. She emphasized that leadership is not determined by gender, but by individual quality, competence, integrity, and responsibility.
This perspective resonated strongly with the EHH and UEM delegates, who actively engaged in discussions on how gender equality can be nurtured within Islamic educational environments while still respecting religious and cultural traditions.
The dialogue became even more dynamic during an interactive session with students and teachers of the pesantren. The santriwati shared their motivations for studying at PPTI Al Falah, highlighting its commitment to gender equality, human dignity, and empowering women according to their talents and aspirations. Teachers, including male educators, affirmed that leadership is based on capability and character rather than gender.
Responding to questions regarding cases of violence in some boarding schools, Ning Siti Rofiah firmly rejected all forms of violence and discrimination, emphasizing that PPTI Al Falah promotes a culture of respect, equality, and dignity between women and men as part of its educational and religious values.
Through this visit, the EHH and UEM delegation gained valuable insights into how an Islamic boarding school can serve as an inclusive educational space that empowers women while promoting universal values of humanity, justice, and peace. The program reflects SWCU’s ongoing commitment to fostering international cooperation and interreligious dialogue in addressing contemporary global challenges.
Reps from SWCU and CSR-CMR who attended the meeting included Rev. Dr. Gunawan Y. A. Suprabowo, Rev. Dr. Agus Supratikno, and Rev. Dr. Iky Sumarthina P. Prayitno, while from the EHH and UEM included Prof. Dr. Gotlind Ulshöfer, Prof. Dr. Marga Günther, Prof. Dr. Ulrike Manz, Rhoda Lynn Gregorio, and Julia Thissen (*Gunawan Suprabowo contributed to this report).
