Why Does a Professor Need to “School” Again at Al Zaytun?
By: Ali Aminulloh
The Al-Zaytun Student Training (PPD) entered its 35th session since its inception on June 1, 2025. The session, held on Sunday, February 1, 2026, felt a different atmosphere in the meeting hall. On the stage stood a man with a string of impressive academic titles: Prof. (Yon) Mahyuni, M.A., Ph.D., Professor of Applied Linguistics, Discourse Analysis, and English Language Education from the University of Mataram.
However, instead of coming with the authority of a preaching teacher, the Professor made a confession that shocked the thousands of eyes in attendance.
The Paradox of the “Expert” Who Feels Like He’s Just Learning
How could a man whose “degree has reached the pinnacle” (Professor) feel like he’d just discovered the essence of ideal education the moment he stepped into the Al-Zaytun complex? This is rhetoric that awakens our awareness: in a world obsessed with diplomas, we often forget what it’s like to see theory truly put into action.
“Once I entered the Al-Zaytun complex, I imagined what Indonesia’s ideal education system should actually be like,” said Prof. Mahyuni reflectively.
He wasn’t mincing words. As a researcher, he saw a real pentahelix synergy, where intellectuals, the public, and stakeholders merged into a single force he called the “majelis ta’lim,” or assembly of learned people.
The Light Behind the Phone Screen: Between AI and Silaturrahim
Amidst the onslaught of globalization, Prof. Mahyuni highlighted a modern contradiction. We live in an age where AI and Google can answer anything in seconds. However, there is one thing that lines of algorithmic code can never replicate: Silaturrahim.
– Technology as a Tool, Not a God: Although technology is inevitable, Al-Zaytun demonstrates courage by restricting cell phone use for students under the age of 16.
– More Modern than Australia: Prof. Mahyuni compared this practice to Australia, where she studied for seven years, which had just begun implementing a similar policy.
– Human Connection: For her, the physical togetherness of more than 40 people in one room brings blessings and prayers that no Information Technology (IT) can match.
Sovereignty Begins at the Dining Table
One of the most poignant highlights of her presentation was the independence and quality of life at Al-Zaytun. While the nation is grappling with the issue of food quality control for national programs, Al-Zaytun has long practiced a natural and hygienic food selection system.
“If we’re honest, if we just give the MBG (Free Nutritious Meals) today to Zaytun, who manages it, the whole of Indonesia would be fine,” she said, alluding to the frequent phenomenon of “fraudulent” food quality.
For Prof. Mahyuni, this isn’t just about food, but about branding and honesty. He encouraged the government and other institutions to promote the sanitation system and organic food selection at Al-Zaytun as best practices so they don’t feel embarrassed to study there.
Language as a Bridge to the World, Not Just a Style
As a linguist, Prof. Mahyuni emphasized that mastery of a foreign language, whether Arabic, English, Mandarin, or Japanese, is not a tool for “showing off.” Language is an instrument for economics and preaching.
He cited Malaysia’s success in attracting Middle Eastern tourists simply by training taxi drivers and hotel staff in simple Arabic. Al-Zaytun, with its 24-hour language practice, has a significant advantage in producing graduates who are not only theoreticians but also practitioners who are adaptable to the needs of the global market.
Closing with Hope
At the end of his session, Prof. Mahyuni emphasized that his presence at the 35th PPD was not to train, but to learn. He sees Al-Zaytun as a living laboratory where the values of egalitarianism and hard work are not just narratives, but are actually visible in the farmlands and shipyards.**
Indramayu, February 2, 2026
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