Santri Day 2025: UNU Jogja Encourages Students to Embrace Santri Values

Yogyakarta, Indonesia — Nahdlatul Ulama University (UNU) Jogja held a commemoration ceremony for Santri Day 2025 at the university courtyard on Wednesday, October 22. The ceremony, which began at 8:00 a.m., was attended by university leaders, lecturers, staff, and students of UNU Jogja.

Serving as the ceremony inspector, Vice Rector for Pesantren Affairs, Dr. Abdul Ghoffar, M.B.A., emphasized that Santri Day is a significant moment to recall the spirit of jihad demonstrated by Nahdlatul Ulama’s scholars and to internalize the noble values inherited from the santri (students of Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia) tradition.

In his address, Dr. Ghoffar referred to the ideas from Qanun Asasi NU, a foundational text written by Hadratus Syaikh KH. Hasyim Asy’ari, which outlines four core principles: ‘Adl (justice), Amān (security), Ihsān (excellence in goodness), and Iṣlāḥ (peace).

“These four values serve as a moral foundation for every santri—to uphold justice, spread a sense of security, do good sincerely, and become agents of peace,” he said.

He added that a true santri is characterized by a love for knowledge, a spirit of service, and a commitment to contributing positively to society. These values align with UNU Jogja’s vision and mission as a cadre university committed to producing graduates who are professional, ethical, and adaptive to the changing times.

“Learning, giving benefit, and serving others are the essence of our struggle. We encourage UNU Jogja students to embody this spirit, as Allah loves His servants who strive earnestly and act professionally,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Director of Internal Pesantren Affairs, Ahmad Hujaj Nurohim, stated that this year’s Santri Day commemoration is a form of devotion to the founders of Nahdlatul Ulama.

“This event serves as a reminder of the scholars’ spirit in building the nation. We instill this spirit in our students as shared motivation to continue contributing not only to the country but also to the world,” he said.

In addition to the ceremony, the Santri Day 2025 series at UNU Jogja also included an istighosah (mass prayer) with the university community held at The Forum Room on Monday, October 20, and a pilgrimage to the graves of local saints across the Yogyakarta region on Wednesday, October 22. [Latifah]