Auditorium of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA SPs UIN Jakarta, SPs NEWS – The Graduate School (SPs) of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta held the 1702nd Doctoral Promotion Exam in the Auditorium Room of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA on Monday, July 27, 2026 with promovendus Gian Gideon Akin.

Gian is a student of the Doctoral program in Islamic Studies with a concentration in Islamic Religious Education. His dissertation is entitled "Nationalism in Islamic Religious Education and Christian Religious Education (An Analytical Study of PAI and PAK Textbooks)".

This dissertation examines in depth how the concept and integration of nationalism are constructed in the textbooks of Islamic Religious Education (PAI) and Christian Religious Education (PAK) published by the Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia in 2022. More than just a text study, this study highlights the extent to which religious learning materials are able to respond to the realities and needs of Indonesia's multicultural society.

This research step was triggered by the increasingly complex challenges of nationality in the contemporary era. The phenomenon of identity politics, the rise of social polarization, and the loosening of historical awareness among the younger generation have become loud alarms that demand the strategic role of religious education to not only teach dogma, but also build inclusive and transformative nationalism.

To dissect this problem, Gian uses a qualitative approach based on content analysis combined with comparative analysis between the two religious textbooks. This approach allows researchers to see patterns, similarities, and fundamental differences in the delivery of national messages to students.

The theoretical framework of this research is solidly built by combining three major ideas: Anthony Giddens' structuring theory to see the interaction between structure and agency, the concept of value objectification from Kuntowijoyo, and Sartono Kartodirdjo's thinking which views nationalism as a product of history and cultural dynamics that continue to develop.

The results of the analysis of the PAI textbook show that the values of nationalism are mainly constructed through the strengthening  of ukhuwah (brotherhood) which is associated with the life of the nation and state. This pattern has been shown to be effective in building social cohesion, although the study also notes that there is still a lack of space to critically reflect on nationalism beyond the boundaries of religious communities.

Meanwhile, PAK's textbooks appear to highlight the values of love, justice, and social responsibility as the main foundation for the formation of nationalism. This narrative succeeded in encouraging the birth of an inclusive attitude in students, although the discussion is considered to have not much to do with the historical struggle of the Indonesian nation.

In the end, this comparative study is not just an evaluation of the text, but is present as a representation of the direction of national education policy. The findings of the research at SPs UIN Jakarta formulate a new conceptual model that can be a strategic reference for policy makers in developing a religious education curriculum that more closely embraces Indonesia's diversity.

Gian successfully defended his dissertation under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Dede Rosyada, MA, Prof. Dr. Ulfah Fajarini, M.Si, and was tested in front of a board of examiners consisting of Prof. Dr. Zulkifli, MA, Prof. Dr. Dede Rosyada, MA, Prof. Dr. Ulfah Fajarini, M.Si, Prof. Dr. Kadir, M.Pd, Prof. Dr. Ratna Sari Dewi, M.Pd and Prof. Dr. Iik Arifin Mansurnoor,  MA.

After paying attention to the writing of the dissertation, the comments of the examiner team and the answers of the promovendus, the examiner team determined that Gian Gideon Akin graduated with the predicate of Very Satisfactory. Gian Gideon Akin is the 1702nd Doctor in the field of Islamic Studies, doctoral program of the Graduate School of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. (Jay A)