From Thursday to Friday (23 to 24 May 2019), the Sociology Department of UIN Sunan Kalijaga had three groups of lecturers from the Tarutung State Christian Institute North Tapanuli, North Sumatra. The group led by the Head of Christian Sociology Department IAKN Tarutung, Mrs. Elvri Teresia Simbolon, S.Sos., M.Pd., intending to conduct a comparative study notably related in the management of the department in particular how to develop a curriculum in the Sociology department which are both under the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag). In the initial conversation, Mrs. Elvri explained, as a department that has already been established for one year and preparing to apply for accreditation next year, the Christian Sociology Department IAKN Tarutung need to learn a lot from the Sociology Department, Social and Humanity Sciences Faculty of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, in particular related to department management and curriculum development.

The meeting was held in the Sociology Department Meeting Room performing well and full of intimacy. The Head of Department, Achmad Zainal Arifin, Ph.D., and the Secretary of Department, Dr. Napsiah, M.Sc., and other lecturers in the Sociology Department like Dr. Muryanti, MA and Ambarsari Dewi, Ph.D., as managers of the Reflective Sociology Journal and the Sociology Laboratory (Labsos) present at the meeting. At this agenda, Dr. Napsiah patiently explained the process of compiling the forms and other matters related to production activities. Meanwhile, Achmad Zainal Arifin, Ph.D. explained the KKNI curriculum especially related to the integration-interconnection process which afterward could be used as an alternative in curriculum development in the Christian Sociology Department.

On this comparative study visit, the group of lecturers from the Christian Sociology Department, Faculty of Social and Christian Humanity Sciences, IAKN Tarutung, the Dean of Social and Humanity Sciences Faculty, Dr. Mochammad Sodik, S.Sos., M.Si., are pleased to receive the entourage in his office as well as the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between both institutions under the Ministry of Religion. The Dean expressed his hope that the signing of the MoA between both institutions could soon be followed by collaborations through educational and community service activities to improve the performance. Shortly, the Head of Christian Sociology Department, IAKN Tarutung emphasized his commitment to participate in several activities, including AICoSH and the Reflective Sociology Journal Panel Conference.