Strengthening Global Pedagogy: MTBI Joins UINSU’s Faculty-Wide Initiative to Host the International Joint Conference on Enhancing Teaching Quality in a Globalized World, Featuring Distinguished Speakers from Four Countries and Participants from Across the Globe

International keynote speakers and UINSU academic gather at the International Joint Conference in Medan, bringing together voices from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Finland.

Medan, Indonesia – July 2025 – In an effort to strengthen global academic collaboration and improve the quality of teaching in higher education, the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training of Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara, through an initiative led by the Master’s Program in English Education (MTBI) in collaboration with other graduate programs, successfully hosted the International Joint Conference: Enhancing Teaching Quality in a Globalized World on July 10, 2025, at Nivia Hotel Medan.

The conference brought together education leaders, researchers, and practitioners from four countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Finland, to explore pedagogical innovation, cross-border academic collaboration, and strategies for empowering educators in a rapidly changing educational landscape.

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The event began with a welcoming speech from Prof. Dr. Nurhayati, M.Ag., Rector of UINSU, who emphasized the importance of building bridges through education.

Today’s world demands educators who are not only knowledgeable, but also open to collaboration, adaptable to change, and committed to global improvement in education. Conferences like this are vital to creating that mindset.

Prof. Dr. Nurhayati, M.Ag., Rector of UINSU

The focus speaker, Prof. Dr. Tien Rafida, M.Hum., Dean of FITK UINSU, further highlighted the relevance of global pedagogical dialogue.

Enhancing teaching quality is not only a local concern, it is a global challenge. We must collectively reimagine how we prepare future educators in line with international standards, yet remain rooted in our values.

Prof. Dr. Tien Rafida, M.Hum., Dean of FITK UINSU

Maslathif Dwi Purnomo, PhD., Head of the Master’s Program in English Education, played a key role in shaping the vision of this international conference. With a strong commitment to elevating UINSU’s global presence, he emphasized the importance of building sustainable academic networks that cross national and disciplinary boundaries.

This conference is more than an academic event, it is a collective movement toward a more inclusive, globally engaged education system. By inviting diverse perspectives, we hope to inspire innovations in teaching and equip our educators with a broader worldview

Maslathif Dwi Purnomo, PhD., Head of the Master’s Program in English Education

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The event featured a strong lineup of keynote speakers from four different nations:

• Prof. Dr. Sugiyono, M.Pd., a distinguished professor at Yogyakarta State University (UNY) and renowned author of Indonesia’s best-selling research methodology book widely used across the nation, delivered an impactful address on the scientific and transformative role of research-based teaching.

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• Asst. Prof. Dr. Mohammad Azannee Saad, Deputy Dean of Academic and Internationalisation at the Kulliyyah of Education, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), focused on teacher development through intercultural exposure.

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• Dr. Narong Hassanee from Fatoni University, Thailand, emphasized the need to reintegrate local wisdom into global education models.
• Muhammad Tholkhah, Ph.D. from Tampere University, Finland, shared insights into Finland’s education philosophy, drawing from his experience in one of the world’s most respected education systems.
• Lastly, Prof. Dr. Mardianto, M.Pd., a senior professor at UIN Sumatera Utara, presented on developing educator character through Islamic-integrated teaching.

The event was co-organized by:

• Maslathif Dwi Purnomo, Ph.D., Head of the English Education Master’s Program
• Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman, M.Pd., Head of the Doctoral Program in Islamic Education Management
• Dr. Fatkhur Rohman, M.A., Head of the Master’s Program in Islamic Education Management
• Dr. Salminawati, S.S., M.A., Head of the Master’s Program in Islamic Religious Education

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These academic leaders worked alongside the MTBI UINSU team to ensure a smooth, meaningful, and impactful event.

This joint conference exemplifies how collaboration can uplift academic programs and provide platforms for lecturers and students alike to engage in global discourse.

Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman, M.Pd., Head of the Doctoral Program in Islamic Education Management

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Reflina, M.Pd., Secretary of the MTBI Program, also expressed her appreciation for the success of the event, highlighting its developmental impact for both students and faculty:

This international conference created meaningful academic exposure not only for our lecturers but also for students, who had the opportunity to engage with global ideas and form professional relationships across borders.

Reflina, M.Pd., Secretary of the MTBI Program

The conference also provided a platform for early-career researchers and postgraduate students to connect with international experts and explore future academic collaborations.

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