Experts Discuss Concept of Indonesian International Islamic University

Jakarta, MINA – A number of world Islamic education experts held a meeting in Indonesia in order to give input on the format of International Islamic University of Indonesia (UIII). The university is planned to be the center of world Islamic studies.

The meeting took place in Jakarta on Tuesday with the theme “Seizing The Moment For Inventing Muslim Civilization”. They discussed the ideal concept of UIII which is now under construction in Depok, West Java.

The Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, KH. Ma`ruf Amin, who was present as the keynote speaker, revealed that the government wanted UIII to become a global international quality university.

“Indonesia is the largest democratic Islamic country in the world. We deserve to be a reference in developing global quality Islamic knowledge, “he said.

The establishment of university is based on Presidential Regulation No. 57 of 2016 concerning the Establishment of UIII. There are three fields to be developed, namely: Islamic religious studies, social sciences, and humanities and technological science.

“In addition to the study center, this institution is important to become a center for the spread of modern, tolerant, and progressive Islamic culture,” he added.

He asked all participants to contribute their thoughts, so that UIII would find an ideal form within the framework of Islamic development characterized rahmatan lilalamin.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Islamic Education, Kamruddin Amin, added in the era of transformation, Indonesia needs tools to enlighten and empower its human resources.

UIII is the right answer, because it will be a center for the development of science and technology, and a center of culture and society in Islamic world.

There are three important pillars related to the establishment of UIII. First, UIII as an educational and research institution. Second, UIII as the center of Islamic culture and society. And third, UIII as a center for research on strategic Islamic issues and challenges of the Islamic world.

At the beginning, UIII will open a program of sharia, aqeedah, interpretation, hadith, Sufism, the proposal of fiqh, lughah, and balaghah. There are also social sciences, halal technology, art, and music.

According to Kamaruddin, his party wanted to combine scholarship traditions in Arabia and the west.

“So, UIII will not be completely like in Arabic and not like in the West, but we will study both models to find new forms that are more suitable for Indonesia,” he said.

Among the world Islamic academics who presented in the meeting included Deputy Chancellor of Al-Azhar University of Egypt, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abouzaid Alamair and Prof. James Piscatori from the Australian National University Center for Arabic and Islamic Studies. (T/Sj/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)