The Master’s Program in English Education at Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) of North Sumatera has achieved a significant national milestone by securing the 6th position among the Best Publication-Ranked Master’s Programs in English Education/Tadris Bahasa Inggris at the national university level in Indonesia, based on SINTA (Science and Technology Index) three-year publication scores.
This achievement places the program among the top six out of 74 Master’s-level English Education and Tadris Bahasa Inggris programs nationwide, reflecting strong academic productivity, research consistency, and a sustained commitment to scholarly excellence. According to SINTA data, the Master’s Program in English Education UIN of North Sumatera recorded a three-year SINTA score of 3.780, positioning it alongside leading public and private universities across Indonesia.
The national top ten ranking is dominated by well-established institutions, with Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta ranked first (6.783), followed by Universitas Negeri Malang (5.791), Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha (4.753), Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidenreng Rappang (4.302), and Universitas Negeri Makassar (4.161). UIN North Sumatra’s position at rank six highlights its strong competitiveness within a highly selective academic landscape.
A Significant Achievement for an Islamic Higher Education Institution
As an Islamic higher education institution, UIN of North Sumatera’s inclusion in the top six demonstrates that its Master’s Program in English Education is not only competitive but also capable of contributing meaningfully to national and international academic discourse. The ranking reflects cumulative publication output indexed in SINTA over a three-year period, including journal articles, citations, and academic visibility.
Maslathif Dwi Purnomo, M.Hum., Ph.D., Head of the Master’s Program in English Education, described the achievement as a collective success while emphasizing the program’s commitment to continuous improvement.
This is an excellent achievement for our program. Ranking sixth at the national level is a very high position, especially considering the number and quality of competing universities
Maslathif, Ph.D. stated.
However, he stressed that the ranking is not the final goal.
We are grateful for this recognition, but we are not satisfied. This result motivates us to work harder, strengthen our research culture, and improve the quality and impact of our academic publications. Excellence must be pursued continuously.
Maslathif, Ph.D. added.
According to Maslathif, the achievement is the result of long-term academic strategies, including mentoring for lecturers and students, encouragement of collaborative research, and alignment with national quality assurance frameworks such as the PPEPP cycle (Determination, Implementation, Evaluation, Control, and Improvement).
Strong Academic Culture and Institutional Support
The program’s success is also supported by institutional leadership at the Faculty of Tarbiyah Science and Teacher Training (FITK) and the university level. Previous initiatives such as international academic engagement, student mobility programs, internal quality audits (AMI), and structured research guidance have contributed to strengthening academic governance and publication performance.
Reflina, M.Pd., Secretary of the Master’s Program in English Education, emphasized that the ranking reflects teamwork and sustainable academic planning.
This achievement is the result of collaboration between lecturers, students, and faculty leadership. We continuously encourage academic writing, publication ethics, and research productivity as part of our academic culture .
Reflina, M.Pd. explained
She also highlighted that students play an increasingly important role in supporting publication output through thesis-based articles and joint publications with faculty members.
Our focus moving forward is to strengthen mentoring systems, improve documentation, and expand publication targets to reputable national and international journals.
Reflina, M.Pd. added
Looking Ahead: From National Recognition to Greater Impact
The sixth-place national ranking reinforces the Master’s Program in English Education UIN of North Sumatera’s position as one of the leading graduate programs in the field. It also aligns with the university’s broader vision to become a competitive and reputable institution at the national and international levels.
With this achievement, the program aims to further enhance research quality, increase international collaboration, and contribute more significantly to English education scholarship in Indonesia and beyond.
As Maslathif concluded:
“Rankings are important, but impact is more important. Our ultimate goal is to produce meaningful research that benefits education, society, and the global academic community.”