Data Validation for the Adinata Syariah Award of the East Java Provincial Government: KNEKS Team Visits ITS OPOP Centre and KHAS Zone at ITS Central Canteen

Surabaya, 20 May 2026 — Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) welcomed a visit from the National Committee for Sharia Economy and Finance (KNEKS) team as part of the data validation process for the Adinata Syariah Award of the East Java Provincial Government. The activity took place at the One Pesantren One Product (OPOP) Centre ITS and the Halal, Safe, and Healthy Culinary Zone (Zona KHAS) at the ITS Central Canteen on Wednesday (20/5).

The KNEKS team was accompanied by representatives from several strategic institutions in East Java. These included Bank Indonesia Representative Office for East Java, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) of East Java Province, the Regional Development Planning Agency of East Java Province, the Economic Affairs Bureau of the East Java Provincial Secretariat, the Cooperatives and SMEs Office of East Java Province, the Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy Office of East Java Province, the Livestock Office of East Java Province, and the Executive Management of the Regional Committee for Sharia Economy and Finance (KDEKS) of East Java.

This activity formed part of the validation process for strengthening the sharia economic ecosystem in East Java, particularly in relation to halal product development, business empowerment, the strengthening of pesantren-based economic initiatives, and the implementation of halal culinary facilities within higher education institutions. Through the OPOP Centre and the KHAS Zone at the Central Canteen, ITS is regarded as having a strategic role in supporting the development of an integrated halal ecosystem that connects education, research, innovation, mentoring, and community-based implementation.

In addition to conducting a direct review of the OPOP Centre and ITS KHAS Zone, the KNEKS delegation was also received by the ITS Vice-Rector IV for Research, Innovation, Cooperation, and Alumni Affairs, Prof. Agus Muhamad Hatta, S.T., M.Si., Ph.D. On this occasion, ITS reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its contribution to the development of sharia economy and finance, particularly through research, innovation, MSME mentoring, the empowerment of pesantren economies, and the development of a halal product ecosystem.

Prof. Agus stated that ITS has the academic and institutional capacity to support the acceleration of sharia economic development in East Java. According to him, higher education institutions play an important role not only in producing innovation, but also in connecting research outcomes with the needs of society, government, business actors, and pesantren communities.

“ITS is committed to continuously supporting the strengthening of the halal and sharia economic ecosystem through cross-sector collaboration. The presence of the OPOP Centre and the KHAS Zone at the ITS Central Canteen is one concrete form of ITS’ contribution to building an environment that supports halal, safe, healthy, innovative, and competitive products,” he said.

The Director of the ITS OPOP Centre, Dr Arief Abdurrahman, S.T., M.T., explained that the ITS OPOP Centre runs various programmes aimed at supporting the independence of Islamic boarding schools in East Java. These programmes focus not only on strengthening pesantren institutional capacity, but also on assisting product development, improving business quality, strengthening business management, and expanding pesantren-based entrepreneurial networks.

“Through the OPOP Centre, ITS seeks to deliver programmes that can help Islamic boarding schools become more independent, productive, and competitive. This mentoring is expected to encourage pesantren to develop their economic potential while strengthening their contribution to the sharia economic ecosystem in East Java,” Arief explained.

Meanwhile, the KHAS Zone at the ITS Central Canteen serves as an example of the implementation of a halal, safe, and healthy culinary environment on campus. This zone is also a source of pride, as it is the first KHAS Zone in Indonesia. The presence of the KHAS Zone at the ITS Central Canteen demonstrates ITS’ commitment to supporting food services that meet halal, safety, and health standards for the academic community as well as the wider public.

The KHAS Zone also represents a tangible form of synergy between the university, government, and various stakeholders in strengthening the halal ecosystem in the culinary sector. Through this facility, ITS not only provides halal food services within the campus environment, but also presents an implementation model that can serve as a reference for the development of halal culinary zones in other regions.

Through this validation visit, ITS hopes that synergy between higher education institutions, regional governments, financial institutions, relevant authorities, and business actors will continue to be strengthened. This collaboration is expected to encourage East Java to become one of the national centres for sharia economic development and the halal industry in an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable manner.