The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FISHUM), UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, began its 2026 Pengenalan Budaya Akademik dan Kemahasiswaan (PBAK), or Academic and Student Culture Orientation, with a commitment to developing new students who are not only academically prepared but also mentally resilient, morally grounded, and socially aware. This commitment was reflected from the outset through the Dhuha prayer, which formed part of the opening activities.

According to the PBAK UIN Sunan Kalijaga programme schedule, the first day of activities on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, began with the Dhuha prayer from 07:30 to 07:40 a.m. The programme continued with a religious address (tausiyah) delivered by the Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, S.Ag., M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., followed by a prayer recitation. This sequence placed spiritual values at the foundation of the students’ introduction to university academic and student life.

For FISHUM, beginning PBAK with the Dhuha prayer carries a significance that extends beyond ceremonial practice. The spiritual activity represents an effort to encourage students to approach university life through a balance of intellectual development, mental well-being, moral responsibility, and social awareness.

The transition to higher education requires new students to adjust to different learning patterns, social environments, greater personal independence, and more demanding academic expectations. PBAK therefore serves as an important moment for introducing the university not merely as a place for acquiring knowledge, but also as an environment for character development. The Dhuha prayer at the beginning of the programme symbolises the importance of inner composure, discipline, self-reflection, and a sense of responsibility as members of an academic community.

In the 2026 academic year, FISHUM welcomed 564 new students. Of this total, 562 students are enrolled in regular programmes, comprising 220 Psychology students, 149 Sociology students, and 193 Communication Science students. An additional two students are enrolled in the International Undergraduate Program (IUP), with one student in Psychology and one in Communication Science.

The size and diversity of the incoming cohort provide an important foundation for FISHUM to cultivate an academic environment characterised by dialogue, collaboration, and openness to differences. At the same time, such diversity requires the Faculty to continuously strengthen an inclusive educational environment in which all students have equitable opportunities to learn, participate, and develop.

This commitment is also reflected in the presence of students with disabilities within FISHUM. According to the 2026 List of New Students with Disabilities at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, three new students with disabilities were admitted to FISHUM: two students in Communication Science and one student in Psychology. The official document records the two Communication Science students as Deaf students and the Psychology student as having a mental disability.

The presence of students from diverse backgrounds and with different needs reinforces the importance of PBAK as an entry point for developing an inclusive academic culture. Inclusion should not end with student admission; it needs to be reflected in accessible learning environments, equitable communication, respect for differences, and appropriate academic and social support for every student.

In this context, the spiritual values introduced through the Dhuha prayer are closely connected to the principles of humanity and inclusion that form an important part of education at FISHUM. Mental resilience is understood not merely as the capacity to withstand academic pressure, but also as the ability to manage oneself, adapt to new circumstances, collaborate with others, and respect diversity. Moral strength, meanwhile, is expressed through integrity, empathy, responsibility, and concern for others.

PBAK 2026 is therefore expected to mark the beginning of the academic journey of FISHUM’s 564 new students as members of the UIN Sunan Kalijaga academic community. Through the integration of academic orientation, spiritual development, character formation, and an inclusive campus culture, these students are expected to develop into individuals who are intellectually capable, mentally resilient, morally grounded, and socially responsive within a diverse society.