Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training Successfully Conducted International Webinar Activities Titled “Building the Middle Way: Modernity and Islamic Education”

The Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training of the Ma’arif Jambi Islamic Institute successfully held an International Webinar activity with the theme “Building the Middle Way: Modernity and Islamic Education”, which was held online through the Zoom platform on Wednesday, July 24, 2025. This activity was carried out as an effort to strengthen the integrative understanding between modernity and Islamic education as well as the perspective of counseling education and early childhood education in a global context. This webinar was officially opened by the Rector of the Ma’arif Jambi Islamic Institute, Mr. Dr. Miftahur Rizik, S.Pd.I., M.Pd., and the Dean of the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training, Mrs. Dr. Suprihatin, M.Pd.I., and was attended by, Heads of Study Programs, Lecturers and Lecturer associations throughout Indonesia, PPPAI, students, and extraordinary presenters. The enthusiasm of the participants was very high, reflecting the academic spirit in dialogue between Islamic education and the challenges of global modernity. As the keynote speaker, Mr. Prof. Mike Hardy from Coventry University, England, an expert in the field of intercultural dialogue and peace education. In his presentation, Prof. Hardy emphasized the importance of strategies to maintain a balance between Islamic values and the ever-evolving demands of the modern world. In addition, three other speakers also provided significant scientific contributions, namely Dr. Siti Marpuah from Tun Hussein University in Malaysia, Dr. Sumarto, M.Pd.I., from Curup State Islamic Institute, and Dr. Wahyu Khafidah, S.Pd.I., MA from Serambi Mekkah University. The purpose of this International Webinar is to build a global scientific discourse that bridges Islamic values with the principles of modernity that can increase the insight and academic capacity of lecturers and students in the field of contemporary Islamic education, and can also strengthen international networks between educational institutions, especially in curriculum development and cross-country research collaboration, as well as become a strategic discussion forum to develop an inclusive, moderate, and adaptive Islamic education model to the development of the times. With this event, the Ma’arif Islamic Institute in Jambi further demonstrates its commitment to supporting campus internationalization and strengthening the academic role in the development of the community and nation. It is hoped that such activities can continue to be implemented sustainably as a tangible contribution to the development of Islamic scholarship that is responsive to the challenges of the times.