In celebration of the upcoming 35th Anniversary of Universitas ‘Aisyiyah Yogyakarta (Milad UNISA ke-35), the 109th Anniversary of ‘Aisyiyah (Milad ‘Aisyiyah ke-109), and the 100th Anniversary of Suara ‘Aisyiyah (Milad Suara ‘Aisyiyah ke-100), The Aisyiyah Center (TAC) of Universitas ‘Aisyiyah Yogyakarta (UNISA), in collaboration with LPPA Pimpinan Pusat ‘Aisyiyah, proudly presents the International Conference on Aisyiyah Studies (ICAS) 2026.
The conference is designed as an international interdisciplinary forum that brings together scholars, researchers, students, activists, educators, policymakers, community leaders, and practitioners from various countries to discuss contemporary issues surrounding Muslim women, social transformation, religion, sustainability, education, health, digital culture, and global civilization from the perspective of progressive Islam.
Around the world, societies are facing increasingly interconnected challenges: environmental degradation, technological disruption, social polarization, economic inequality, crises of public trust, and the weakening of social solidarity. These realities demand not only technological innovation, but also ethical reflection, collective responsibility, and new forms of inclusive leadership.
For more than a century, ‘Aisyiyah has demonstrated how Muslim women’s movements can contribute meaningfully to education, healthcare, social welfare, humanitarian work, community empowerment, and intellectual transformation. Through its long tradition of service and public engagement, ‘Aisyiyah continues to offer important insights into how faith-based movements respond to modern challenges while remaining rooted in ethical and spiritual values.
Inspired by this legacy, ICAS 2026 seeks to create a global academic conversation on the role of Muslim women, Islamic movements, and interdisciplinary scholarship in shaping a more humane, sustainable, and socially just future.
Rather than functioning merely as a conventional academic conference, ICAS 2026 is envisioned as a collaborative intellectual space where academic research meets lived realities, humanitarian concerns, and future global challenges. The conference encourages critical, reflective, and transformative discussions that connect local experiences with broader global conversations.
Conference Theme
Strengthening Solidarity, Nurturing the Earth: Progressive Muslim Women’s Leadership for a Sustainable Civilization
This theme reflects the growing urgency to reconnect social justice, ecological responsibility, spirituality, public ethics, and human dignity amidst contemporary global crises. ICAS 2026 explores how Muslim women’s leadership can contribute to building sustainable futures grounded in solidarity, compassion, knowledge, inclusivity, and collective care.
The conference also highlights the importance of strengthening networks of collaboration across academic institutions, civil society organizations, faith-based movements, and global communities in addressing shared human challenges.
Objectives of the Conference
General Purpose: To provide a global academic platform for disseminating research findings, ideas, and best practices related to the role of ‘Aisyiyah and progressive Muslim women’s movements in addressing global civilizational challenges.
Specific Objectives:
To explore the historical and contemporary contributions of ‘Aisyiyah in education, health, law, economy, and politics at local, national, and international levels.
To analyze challenges and opportunities for progressive Muslim women’s movements amid global issues such as climate change, digital transformation, and social justice.
To formulate research agendas and strategic actions for ‘Aisyiyah in preparation for the 2027 Congress and in response to future civilizational needs.
To strengthen collaborative networks among academics, activists, and ‘Aisyiyah leaders worldwide.
To produce high-quality academic outputs in the form of indexed proceedings, special journal issues, and an edited volume.
Why Aisyiyah Studies Matter Today
More than a century after its establishment, ‘Aisyiyah continues to provide valuable perspectives on education, women’s leadership, public health, social welfare, environmental ethics, philanthropy, and civic engagement.
Studying ‘Aisyiyah is not only about understanding an organization. It is about examining how Muslim women negotiate modernity, shape public discourse, contribute to nation-building, and participate in global conversations about justice, equality, sustainability, and humanity.
In the contemporary world—marked by rapid digital transformation, shifting religious authority, and changing social structures—Aisyiyah studies also offer important insights into how Islamic movements adapt, transform, and remain socially relevant across generations.
ICAS 2026 therefore seeks to position Aisyiyah studies within broader international discussions on religion, gender, sustainability, public ethics, and social transformation.
Conference Format
ICAS 2026 will be conducted in a hybrid format, allowing participants from various countries to join either physically or virtually.
Date: June 11, 2026 Venue: Universitas ‘Aisyiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia Format: Hybrid Conference (Offline and Online) Organizer:
The Aisyiyah Center (TAC) – Universitas ‘Aisyiyah Yogyakarta
LPPA – Pimpinan Pusat Aisyiyah
Offline participants will attend sessions directly at the conference venue in Yogyakarta, while online participants will join through a virtual conference platform provided by the organizing committee.
Conference Topics
The conference welcomes papers related, but not limited, to the following themes:
History, Thought, and Movements: The legacy of ‘Aisyiyah women’s leadership in nation-building.
Women and Ecological Justice: Theological perspectives and ‘Aisyiyah’s practices in climate change mitigation and environmental activism (eco-jihad).
Da‘wah and Digital Transformation: Innovations, opportunities, and challenges of ‘Aisyiyah in cyberspace.
Health, Well-being, and Family Resilience: Responses to global health issues, stunting, mental health, and shifting gender roles.
Economic Empowerment and Social Justice: Social entrepreneurship, green economy, and ‘Aisyiyah’s role in poverty alleviation.
Law, Politics, and Citizenship: Advocacy for women and children’s rights and strengthening democracy.
Cross-Border Networks: ‘Aisyiyah’s role in diplomacy, global peacebuilding, migration, and interfaith dialogue.
Media and Literacy: The role of Suara ‘Aisyiyah and media in shaping progressive Muslim women’s discourse.
Empowering for Vulnerable Society : Elderly, Disabilities and Minority Group.
The Speakers
Keynote Speakers:
Keynote Speaker I: Prof. Brian Yuliarto, Ph.D., Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (to be confirmed)
Keynote Speaker II: Dr. Apt.Salmah orbayinah, M.Kes., Chair of PP ‘Aisyiyah
Welcoming Speech: Dr. Warsiti, Rector UNISA Yogyakarta
Invited Speakers:
Prof. Dr. Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin (Diplomat, Ambassador to Uzbekistan and Kirgizstan, and Professor of Gender & Human Rights)
Prof. Ezra Chitando (Professor of History and Phenomenology of Religion at the University of Zimbabwe, Faith to Action Network)
Prof. Mark Woodward (Professor of Anthropology in Arizona State University)
Prof. Nelly van Doorn-Harder (Professor of Religious Studies at Wake Forest University, North Carolina)
Claire-Marie Hefner, Ph.D (Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY)
Prof. Dr. Siti Syamsiyatun (UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Indonesia, Professor of Islamic & Gender studies)
Prof. Mitsuo Nakamura (Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Chiba University, Expert on Muhammadiyah)
Prof. Kim Hyung-Jun (Professor in the Department of Cultural Anthropology at Kangwon National University, South Korea)
Hisako Nakamura, MA (Japanese anthropologist and academic)
Prof. Andari Wuri Astuti, MPH., Ph.D (Professor of Midwifery Studies, UNISA Yogyakarta)
Moderator:
Dr. Askuri, M.Si. (Head of the Aisyiyah Center (TAC) at UNISA Yogyakarta)
Dati Fatimah, MA. (LPPA Pimpinan Pusat Aisyiyah)
Dr. Witriani, M.Hum. (LPPA Pimpinan Pusat Aisyiyah)
Prof. Wantonoro, Ph.D. (Lecturer at UNISA Yogyakarta)
UAD/UMY (to be confirmed)
Types of Participation
ICAS 2026 welcomes several categories of participants:
Presenter Participants whose abstracts and full papers are accepted will present their research either online or onsite. Presenters are expected to actively participate in academic discussions and panel sessions.
General Participant Individuals who wish to attend the conference without presenting a paper may register as general participants.
Invited Speakers The conference will also feature distinguished scholars, researchers, and practitioners from various countries who will contribute through keynote lectures and special panel discussions.
Full Paper and Publication
Selected papers presented at ICAS 2026 will have opportunities for publication in the Journal of Aisyiyah Studies.
To maintain academic quality and coherence, all submitted papers are expected to follow the official conference template provided by the committee. The template reflects the scholarly identity of Aisyiyah studies and encourages theoretically grounded, analytically rich, and contextually relevant academic writing.
The full paper structure generally includes:
Title
Author Information
Abstract and Keywords
Introduction
Theoretical or Conceptual Framework
Methodology
Findings and Analysis
Discussion
Conclusion
Bibliography
Acknowledgment (if applicable)
Academic Orientation
ICAS 2026 is not merely a conventional academic conference. It is envisioned as an intellectual and ethical space where scholarship engages directly with social realities, humanitarian concerns, and future challenges. The conference encourages critical, reflective, and transformative perspectives rather than purely descriptive discussions.
Participants are encouraged to produce papers that:
demonstrate conceptual clarity,
engage critically with contemporary issues,
connect local realities with global discourses,
and contribute to broader conversations on religion, gender, justice, sustainability, and civilization.
Networking and Collaboration
Beyond paper presentations, ICAS 2026 also seeks to facilitate:
international research collaborations,
academic networking,
future publication projects,
student and faculty exchanges,
collaborative community engagement programs,
and interdisciplinary partnerships.
The conference aims to become a sustainable academic ecosystem that continuously develops scholarly conversations on Aisyiyah, Muslim women, and progressive Islamic thought in the contemporary world.
For further information and updates, participants may visit: aisyiyahstudies.org
