AICIS+ 2025 Wasn’t a Conference, It Was a Statement!  A Reflection on how AICIS+ 2025 redefined the future of Islamic Scholarship in Indonesia

By Rahayu

Stepping into AICIS+ 2025 as a PhD student at the Faculty of Education, I didn’t just come to observe theories. I came to challenge them, question them, and remix them through the lens of learning, culture, and innovation. Education is not merely a subject I study; it is the space where ideas meet reality, where curriculum shapes consciousness, and where the next generation learns to think, dream, and lead. And trust me, this year’s conference didn’t just match that energy, it amplified it!

Carrying the theme “Islam, Ecotheology, and Technological Transformation: Multidisciplinary Innovations for an Equitable and Sustainable Future”, AICIS+ 2025 brought together a remarkable convergence of Islamic scholarship, science, technology, and social inquiry. The Director General of Islamic Education, Amien Suyitno, emphasized with pride, that AICIS+ 2025 has become the most selective conference in its history because the committee received more than 2,400 abstracts from 31 countries, but only 230 abstracts/scholars were accepted. This really wasn’t simply an academic gathering with scholars; it was a living ecosystem of ideas where faith met futurism, tradition met innovation, and global challenges were tackled with intellect, empathy, and vision.

And thankfully, we’re done with the “separate buckets of knowledge” era; Islam, societal issues, and future-oriented thinking were finally sitting at the same table and talking. We’re indeed bridging disciplines now, welcoming global tech voices, and embracing bold. Instead of treating STEM as a side conversation, AICIS+ 2025 truly brought innovation to center stage, from AI ethics and digital knowledge ecosystems to scientific breakthroughs shaping Muslim communities and global society.

With interdisciplinary panels, forward-thinking researchers, and conversations that connect laboratories to lived realities, AICIS+ 2025 signals a new era: one where Islamic scholarship in Indonesia stands confidently alongside global scientific advancement, not as an observer, but as an active, visionary contributor.

A Moderator Saga: Navigating the Rasch Model Panel

I had the exciting opportunity to serve as the moderator for the Science and Technology panel sessions, which brought together lecturers and invited journal editors from diverse research backgrounds. Some speakers delved into highly specialized topics, including the Rasch model measurement, and presented its applications in educational assessment, psychometrics, and data analysis. Very interesting!

For me personally, the Rasch Model panel I moderated was a standout moment at AICIS+ 2025, it was the only panel dedicated entirely to the Rasch Model during the conference. Again, as a PhD student in the Faculty of Education, I couldn’t believe my luck—this semester, while diving into Educational Assessment and the Rasch Model with our own lecturer in the field, I also accidentally signed up for a moderator of conference that turned out to be pure gold and full of knowledge.

Lesson Learned from AICIS+ 2025

I still remember the very first day of AICIS+ 2025 when the Rector of UIII, Prof. Jamhari, highlighted that this conference was far more than an academic event—it was a center hub of collaboration, dialogue, and intellectual exchange. And this whole experience for me was a powerful reminder that learning doesn’t only happen within the four walls of a classroom, it is beyond that. Observing keynote speakers, participating in panel discussions, and engaging with international top scholars offered a rare chance to see theory and research in action, applied to real-world contexts and global perspectives. I realized that staying curious, being proactive, and learning from others is key because education isn’t just about textbooks and lectures, it’s also about conversations, connections, and the people you meet along the way.