Jambi – The Commencement Ceremony of STKIP and STIT Al-Azhar Diniyyah Jambi was carried out with solemnity and deep significance. One of the highlights of the event was the keynote address delivered by Prof. Fasli Jalal, Ph.D., Expert Advisor to the Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. In his address, Prof. Fasli Jalal commended the growth and progress of STKIP-STIT Al-Azhar Diniyyah Jambi, while also offering an inspiring message urging graduates to keep growing in the face of the challenges of the times.
Prof. Fasli Jalal opened his address by paying tribute to the parents of the graduates, who had provided support in countless forms of time, thought, financial sacrifice, and prayers that never ceased. He noted that the graduates’ success could not be separated from the perseverance and trust of parents who had entrusted their children’s educational future to the institution.
“Graduation is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of entering real life,” Prof. Fasli Jalal told the graduates.
He reminded them that during their time at the institution, students had operated within a relatively structured environment, guided by faculty mentorship and an organized learning system. Once they step into the real world, however, graduates are required to make their own decisions, confront challenges head-on, and take full responsibility for the choices they make in life.
For that reason, he encouraged graduates to step out of their comfort zones, to build a clear roadmap for their lives, and to cultivate the spirit of lifelong learning. The ability to keep learning and adapting, he noted, is becoming increasingly essential amid the rapid pace of global change.
Prof. Fasli Jalal also drew attention to technological developments, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), which has brought sweeping changes to both education and the world of work. He observed that the knowledge and skills held today can quickly lose relevance if not continually renewed in step with the times.
He cited a World Economic Forum projection that by 2030, around 40 percent of the core competencies required across various occupations are expected to change. This, he explained, shows that a diploma alone is no longer sufficient for graduates, they must also possess the ability to adapt, think creatively, communicate, collaborate, build strong character, and remain committed to continuous learning.
According to him, the rise of AI should not be seen merely as a threat, but also as an opportunity. While technology can be harnessed to boost productivity, distinctly human capacities of building relationships, showing empathy, demonstrating compassion, upholding integrity, and embodying strong character remain strengths that machines cannot easily replace.
In his address, Prof. Fasli Jalal also reminded graduates of Indonesia’s current position within its demographic dividend period a phase in which the proportion of the working-age population significantly outweighs that of the non-working-age population, representing a major opportunity for the nation.
Yet he cautioned that this demographic dividend could become either an opportunity or a challenge. Without proper preparation, it could instead give rise to social and economic problems. For this reason, he stressed that young people must be equipped through quality education, strong health, a robust work ethic, and a firm foundation of faith, piety, and noble character.
Prof. Fasli Jalal further noted that Indonesia will face a shift in its population structure in the years ahead. As the elderly population continues to grow, today’s younger generation carries a significant responsibility both to prepare themselves and to help build a workforce that is productive, independent, and of strong character.
He went on to place particular emphasis on three fields of education central to STKIP and STIT Al-Azhar Diniyyah Jambi: Early Childhood Education (PAUD), English Language Education, and Islamic Education/Tarbiyah Studies.
He described Early Childhood Education as one of the most strategic investments in education. The early years, he explained, are a critical period for shaping a child’s foundational abilities, brain development, cognitive growth, character, and other key aspects of development making investment in early childhood education one that yields exceptionally high long-term returns.
“Investment in early childhood education is a vital investment in the future of the nation,” he explained.
English Language Education, meanwhile, holds a strategic position as a gateway to communicating with the global community. Amid the rise of AI capable of performing a wide range of technical tasks, including translation, Prof. Fasli Jalal emphasized that human beings continue to hold a distinct advantage in empathy, compassion, moral values, and humanistic character.
Tarbiyah Studies, or Islamic Education, was highlighted as a vital pillar in shaping individuals who possess not only knowledge and skills, but also faith, piety, and noble character. Education, he said, must be capable of producing human resources who carry dignity, bring benefit to society, and maintain a life orientation encompassing both this world and the hereafter.
The appreciation and perspectives shared by Prof. Fasli Jalal serve as a source of motivation for STKIP and STIT Al-Azhar Diniyyah Jambi to continue improving the quality of education and contributing to the development of outstanding, principled human resources.
The commencement ceremony stood not only as a celebration of the students’ academic achievements, but also as a starting point for graduates to put their knowledge into practice within their communities.
Through the message conveyed in the keynote address, graduates are expected to become a generation that is adaptive to change, open to technological advancement, driven by a spirit of lifelong learning, and firmly committed to upholding the values of faith, piety, and noble character.
STKIP and STIT Al-Azhar Diniyyah Jambi remain committed to continuing to move forward delivering education that is relevant to the demands of the times, while staying firmly rooted in Islamic values and the cultivation of strong character.