South Tangerang, FAH UIN Jakarta | PBAK Program Master of Islamic Cultural History (MSKI) and Master of Arabic Language and Literature (MBSA) FAH UIN Jakarta 2024 successfully built a strong foundation for new students. PBAK was held for two days, namely on Thursday and Friday, September 5-6, 2024 on the 2nd floor of the FAH Building. This PBAK not only aims to introduce the campus and study programs, but also to prepare new students to become scholars who are ready to compete in the era of globalization. 
Not only focusing on academic introduction and campus life, PBAK this time was combined with a national seminar that presented expert academic figures from various related fields. With an interactive and contemporary approach, PBAK MSKI and MBSA held a seminar entitled manuscripts and Islamic history studies of the archipelago as well as introductions related to academic culture, research and writing on Islamic history, and so on. This series of agendas is expected to provide cognition and inspiration for prospective students to navigate the academic and professional world with a solid provision of knowledge and Islamic values.

On the first day, the 2nd floor of the Faculty of Adab and Humanities was lively with the presence of enthusiastic new students of the MBSA and MSKI programs. In the Master of Islamic Cultural History program, students are introduced to various courses such as Islamic historiography, classical and modern Islamic thought, and manuscript studies. Meanwhile, in the Master of Arabic Language and Literature program, students will explore Arabic linguistics, literary criticism, and translation of classical and modern Arabic texts.

In the seminar “Manuscripts and Islamic Historical Studies of the Archipelago” delivered by Prof. Oman Fathurrahman, he conveyed three periods in the world of manuscripts. First, the period before 15 AD. At that time there were Indian language systems, Kawi/Brahmi, Pallava, Old Javanese, Old Sundanese, Sanskrit. The manuscript materials commonly used were palm leaves and daluang. Second, between the 15th-19th centuries AD, the existing language scripts included Arabic, Jawi, Pegon, Serang, Malay, Javanese, Sundanese, etc. While the manuscript materials used were palm leaf/lontar, daluang, european paper. Third, after the 19th century AD with Latin, roman, and lithogras scripts. The manuscripts used are made from lined paper, letjes, and so on. In addition, he said, “There are three sources of Islamic cultural history: 1) Inscriptions; 2) Manuscripts such as lontsr, gebang, daluang, paper; and 3) Folklore or oral tradition such as fairy tales, rhymes, songs,” he said. At the end of the session, Prof. Oman added, that “To research manuscripts we must do gap analysis to see the uniqueness contained in manuscripts. Philological research will be more interesting with empirical research”.

On the other hand, the first day of PBAK MSKI and MBSA was also filled with seminars on tips and tricks for balancing studies, research, publications, and non-academic activities as well as procedures for finding online academic sources to avoid plagiarism. These seminars are expected to provide knowledge and insight to new students in navigating the academic atmosphere at FAH UIN Jakarta.
PBAK MSKI and MBSA FAH UIN Jakarta is not only intended as an introductory event, but also an important moment to instill academic, cultural, and humanitarian values that they will carry during their studies on this campus. With careful preparation, both in terms of academics and soft skills, new students are expected not only to become masters who master their disciplines, but also become agents of change that bring goodness to the wider community.

Author: Hilya Maylaffayza