Indonesia University of Education (UPI) Strengthens Religious Moderation through Implementation of a Socio-Religious Model to Reconstruct Intolerant and Radical Beliefs on Campus

The Indonesia University of Education (UPI) reaffirmed its commitment to promoting religious moderation and diversity through active participation in the 2025 Indonesian Collaborative Research Program (RKI 2025).

As part of the model implementation, UPI organized a series of activities from May 26–27, 2025, involving students, lecturers, and researchers. The program began with a pre-test to measure students’ initial understanding of the concepts of intolerance and radicalism. Participants then watched a video that depicted various forms of intolerance and radicalism in society.

Focus Reasearch

This model focused not only on conceptual understanding but also on strengthening students' attitudes and critical thinking through a socio-religious approach that emphasizes interfaith dialogue, social empathy, and the values of Pancasila and pluralism.

The activities concluded with a post-test to assess the extent of students’ learning after the intervention. Initial results showed a significant increase in scores, indicating the effectiveness of the approach in raising students’ awareness of the importance of tolerance and rejecting extremist ideologies.

Following these activities, the UPI research team also participated in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) organized by UIII on May 28, 2025. The FGD brought together academics, students, and researchers from UPI, UM, and UIII to share critical reflections on the realities of intolerance and radicalism in campus settings. Participants engaged in open dialogue to discuss current challenges and formulate collaborative strategies to create a more inclusive campus culture.

Zazuli Abidin Eko Putro (Jakarta State Polytechnic). They emphasized the need for an educational model that addresses not only cognitive development but also emotional and practical actions in countering violent ideologies.

Prof. Elly Malihah, the head of the research team, expressed her optimism about the initiative:
"Participation in the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) organized by UIII provided us with an important space to exchange best practices and unify our vision across institutions. The FGD demonstrated that inter-institutional collaboration is not only possible but necessary to build social resilience on Indonesian campuses. I am optimistic that this approach will continue to grow and serve as an alternative model for character education based on diversity and religious moderation."

Through its active involvement in RKI 2025, UPI further strengthens its position as a leading and forward-thinking university.