The government wants to make Indonesia a global reference of Islamic civilization, as it can develop and strengthen moderate Islam. One of its efforts to realize this is the government’s commitment to establishing the Indonesian International Islamic University.
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ANTARA FOTO/WAHYU PUTRO A
President Joko Widodo (third left), accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla (second left), Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono (third right), Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung (right), West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan (second right) and Depok Mayor Mohammad Idris looks at the model of the Indonesian International Islamic University (UIII). The President put the first stone for the construction of the campus, which is included in the national strategic projects, in Depok, West Java, on Tuesday (5/6/2018).
DEPOK, KOMPAS — The government wants to make Indonesia a global reference of Islamic civilization, as it can develop and strengthen wasatiyah (moderate) Islam. One of its efforts to realize this is the government’s commitment to establishing the Indonesian International Islamic University (UIII).
Aside from an international standard, UIII is expected to become a model of Islamic higher education by offering strategic Islamic studies.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony of UIII campus on Tuesday (5/6/2018) in Cimanggis, Depok, West Java, President Joko Widodo expressed the hope that UIII would become the institution of the future. “[It will] become the center of Islamic civilization in Indonesia because we are known as the country with the largest Muslim population. Indonesia should be a global reference for Islam civilization,” said the President.
Separately, Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Robikin Emhas said he hoped the university would strengthen moderate and tolerant Islam in Indonesia. Amid growing radicalism, UIII is expected to renew the drive to maintain national plurality, unity and solidarity. “From the institutional structure, the university’s stakeholders must not give room to individuals offering ideologies [other than Pancasila] or other trans-nationalistic ideologies,” he said.
The rector of Jakarta’s Hamka Muhammadiyah University (Uhamka), Suyatno, said he hoped UIII would also become a center for developing Islamic civilization and culture that would produce great Islamic thoughts and ideas, as well as urge the awakening of Islam in Indonesia.
The university is expected to provide qualified human resources and develop knowledge, technology and Islamic thinking. “It is hoped the university will become a reference for other nations and states about wasatiyah Islam in Indonesia,” said Suyatno.
The university’s groundbreaking ceremony was marked with President Jokowi laying the cornerstone, and was witnessed by Vice President Jusuf Kalla and several ministers, state officials and foreign ambassadors. Vice President Kalla was appointed nearly two years ago to prepare the construction project the university, which is financed through the State Budget and non-state funding.
ANTARA FOTO/WAHYU PUTRO A
President Joko Widodo (third left) along with Vice President Jusuf Kalla (third right) puts the first stone for the construction of the Indonesian International Islamic University (UIII), which is part of the national strategic projects, assisted by Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin (second right) and witnessed by Minister of Research and Technology Dikti M Nasir (far left), Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono (second left) and West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan (right) in Depok, West Java, on Tuesday (5/6/2018). The UIII development on a 142.5-hectare plot of land with seven faculties at a cost of Rp 3.5 trillion is a government program to build the center of Indonesian Islamic civilization.
Center for Moderate Islamic Studies
The campus is built on a 142.5-hectare plot that is also utilized the state radio broadcaster RRI. The government has allocated Rp 700 billion of the total Rp 3.5 trillion required for the first stage of construction. According to Presidential Regulation No. 57/2016 on the construction of UIII, the university will not only offer masters and doctoral programs on Islamic studies but also social studies, science and technology.
“Once the university starts operation, I want this place become a center of moderate Islam studies that has been promoted by religious leaders,” the President said.
The President said he hoped creative ideas would be generated to realize social justice and a safe, peaceful and prosperous country. Although the construction is targeted for completion in four years, UIII campus will be built in stages so that classes for two programs could start next year at the latest.
During a limited Cabinet meeting at Merdeka Palace in early January, the President explained why the government was developing UIII in addition to the State Islamic Universities that already existed. “We are building this university not for domestic purposes, but to respond to international demand, such as to strengthen Indonesia’s global leadership role,” he said.
In order to support the learning programs, Kalla stated that he had discussed cooperation with the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Egypt to send their best lecturers to UIII.
Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, who is responsible for the campus’s construction, underlined the importance of UIII amid the current environment. “Different from other institutions, the task and function of UIII is not just to organize classes, but also to develop Islamic civilization through education,” said Lukman.
Thus, UIII would be equipped a center for strategic Islam studies, Islamic culture and Islamic studies, as well as a museum and art studio.
