Thursina International Islamic Boarding School (IIBS) successfully held its Orientation Week (O-Week) for the 2026/2027 Academic Year from July 19 to 25, 2026, welcoming all new Grade 7 and Grade 10 students through a comprehensive onboarding program.
Conducted across both the male and female campuses, the mandatory program was designed to introduce students to Thursina's academic culture, boarding school life, and the core character values that underpin its Holistic & Balanced Education philosophy. Throughout the week, students participated in a structured series of activities integrating spiritual development, academic preparation, leadership training, and character building.
More than a conventional school orientation, Thursina's O-Week serves as the first step in shaping each student's identity as a santri. Through a carefully designed program, participants were introduced to the school's academic system, dormitory life, student support services, foreign language development, Qur'an memorization programs, as well as digital literacy and responsible media use.
Chief of Education at Thursina IIBS, Ustaz Muhammad Rajab, M.Pd.I., emphasized that Orientation Week plays a vital role in building students' character from their very first day at the boarding school.
"Orientation Week lays the foundation for our students' character development. Through this program, we introduce the RECODING Values from the very beginning so that every student develops a strong identity as a religious individual who is also capable of inspiring others. These values will continue to guide their educational journey throughout their time at Thursina IIBS," he said.
Throughout the program, students gained a deeper understanding of Thursina's educational philosophy, institutional vision and mission, the implementation of its RECODING Core Values (Religious, Caring, Open-Minded, and Inspiring), leadership principles, discipline, academic excellence, and the international programs that distinguish Thursina IIBS.
The orientation also included initial assessments, such as language placement tests and tahfiz evaluations, to identify each student's learning needs and ensure more personalized academic and character development throughout their studies.
In addition, students received close guidance from their Academic Advisors and Murobbi/Murobbiyah, reflecting Thursina's personalized mentoring system. This approach reinforces the Religious value within the RECODING framework by strengthening students' moral character as the foundation for their academic, personal, and leadership development.
The week concluded with outdoor team-building activities held at two different locations: Sengkaling Recreation Park for female students and Bedengan Campground for male students.
These outdoor experiences gave students valuable opportunities to develop courage, leadership, teamwork, empathy, and collaborative decision-making while facing a variety of challenges in a natural setting.
Through O-Week 2026, Thursina IIBS continues to demonstrate its commitment to delivering internationally oriented Islamic education that extends beyond academic excellence to include character formation and leadership development. The program marks the first milestone in preparing students to grow into morally excellent, internationally minded, and inspiring leaders who are ready to make meaningful contributions to society, the nation, and the global community. (Izz)
