ENHANCING ACADEMIC NETWORKING AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AT THE MICONIS 2026 CONFERENCE, INDONESIA

On November 3, 2026, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan, Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City, presented a paper at the 3rd Meulaboh International Conference on Islamic Studies (MICONIS 2026), organized by the State Islamic College of Teungku Dirundeng Meulaboh (STAIN Teungku Dirundeng Meulaboh), Indonesia.

With the theme “Islamic Studies for Global Transformation: Knowledge, Justice, Sustainability, and Digital Civilization”, the conference took place over two days, November 3–4, 2026, bringing together scholars and experts from Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines, creating a forum to discuss the role of knowledge, culture, and religion in the face of contemporary social transformations.

At the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan presented a paper on the presence of Islam in urban socio-cultural spaces, using Ho Chi Minh City as a case study. From an interdisciplinary approach, the presentation clarified the role of Muslim communities in multicultural urban life, forms of intercultural interaction, community outreach activities, and contributions to the harmonious development of society.

Through practical cases in Ho Chi Minh City, the paper emphasized that cultural and religious diversity does not automatically create harmony but needs to be nurtured through dialogue, understanding, community initiatives, and inclusive governance mechanisms. These are also important factors contributing to building sustainable cities in the context of international integration.

The research content presented at the conference also has a direct connection to the training activities of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, particularly the module on Religion and Belief in Asia within the Master of Asian Studies program. Integrating issues of religion, cultural diversity, and community life practices in Southeast Asian cities into research and teaching contributes to enhancing interdisciplinarity, updating international knowledge, and connecting theory with practice. Thereby, graduate students have more opportunities to access contemporary regional issues from multiple perspectives, while developing their analytical, comparative, and independent research capabilities.

Beyond its academic significance, STAIN Teungku Dirundeng Meulaboh is an educational institution that has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City. Building on the established cooperative relationship, participation in MICONIS 2026 contributes to strengthening the connection between the two institutions, while opening up prospects for implementing joint research activities, academic exchanges, and training cooperation in the near future.

The participation of representatives from the Faculty of Oriental Studies at MICONIS 2026 demonstrates the cohesion between scientific research, postgraduate training, and international cooperation, while contributing to introducing Vietnam's practical experience in cultural diversity management, promoting intercultural dialogue, and strengthening academic connections in the Southeast Asian region.

Through these activities, the Faculty of Oriental Studies continues to promote its strengths in area studies and interdisciplinary research, gradually concretizing international cooperation agreements, aiming to improve the quality of training and expand the university's academic partner network.