Government to Build Indonesia International Islamic University in Depok

By Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation     Date 22 Juli 2016
Category: News
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Vice President Jusuf Kalla leads a meeting discussing the establishment of Indonesia International Islamic University, at the Vice President Office, Jakarta, on Thursday (21/7)

Based on Presidential Regulation Number 57 of 2016 on the Establishment of Indonesia International Islamic University, (UIII), the Government will build the university in Cimanggis, Depok, West Java, in a 142 hectares area. The university is expected to operate in 2018.

“The land, which belongs to Radio Republik Indonesia, is ideal and strategic since it is located relatively close to Jakarta and there is a toll road near the location,” Vice President Jusuf Kalla said when leading a meeting discussing the establishment of UIII at the Vice President Office, Merdeka Utara, on Thursday (21/7).

On that meeting, the Vice President suggested to create two teams of task forces, i.e. one team is responsible to build physical infrastructure and another team prepares non physical aspects such as vision, mission, as well as education curriculum. Both teams are expected to work together so that in 2018, the university can operate well.

Regarding the fund, Minister of Religious Affairs represented by Secretary General of Ministry of Religious Affairs, Nur Syam, reported that, this year, the Ministry will prepare Rp22 billion. The fund comes from official trip, meeting, and incentive budget savings totaling Rp6 billion, and the rest Rp16 billion will be submitted in the proposal of 2016 additional Revised State Budget (APBNP).

Meanwhile, responding to the funding issue, the Vice President expected there would be a scheme to receive fund or grant from abroad. According to him, there are a lot of countries that appreciate Indonesia’s initiative to build a center of Islamic studies.

“Almost all countries really appreciate it. Actually, western countries are really interested because Indonesia is the biggest moslem populationcountry ,” the Vice President added.

Another suggestion from the Vice President is about the architecture and design. UIII is expected to have modern as well as futuristic facilities and infrastructures, to have high-tech facilities and green environment.

“It should be modern and futuristic, like building an airport. Don’t use certain particular ethnic identity. No need to build domes, like in Turkey,” the Vice President said.

With this university, Indonesia is expected to be an example of a plural country that shows good tolerance, where people from all over the world can learn about moderate Islam.

“This university is prepared for Islamic thinkers and intellectuals, not only for post graduates,” the Vice President said.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Education and Culture Anies Baswedan, Minister of National Development Planning/Head of National Development Planning Agency Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of National Land Agency Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform Yuddy Chrisnandi, Deputy Minister of Finance Mardiasmo, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs A. M. Fachir. (SetwapresRI/ES)(MMB/YM/Naster)

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