Gov’t to Start Developing International Islamic University of Indonesia in June

President Jokowi leads a Limited Meeting discussing the establishment of International Islamic University of Indonesia (UIII)

The Government’s plan to establish an international Islamic university in Indonesia will soon be realized.

Director General of Islamic Education Kamaruddin Amin said that International Islamic University of Indonesia (UIII) will soon be built as a follow-up of Presidential Regulation Number 57 of 2016 on the Establishment of International Islamic University of Indonesia (UIII) dated 29 June 2016.

The development of UIII will begin on Tuesday (5/6) with a groundbreaking ceremony to be led by President Joko “Jokowi” Wododo, accompanied by Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin. Several Ambassadors of friendly countries, leaders of public and Islamic universities, ulema (Islamic scholars), and community leaders will also attend the groundbreaking.

“Tomorrow, the President is scheduled to do the groundbreaking. For the record, the university is located in Cisalak, Depok, West Java,” Kamaruddin said as quoted in the Ministry’s official website www.kemenag.go.id, Monday (4/6).

Kamaruddin added that the development of UIII is a part of the Government’s effort in creating Center of Islamic Civilization of Indonesia (PPII). According to him, there are three fundamental pillars to be established in creating PPII, namely, International Islamic University of Indonesia (UIII), Islamic Cultural Center of Indonesia (PBII), and Islamic Strategic Studies Center of Indonesia (PPIS).

“UIII will pay a special attention to study and development of Islamic civilization of Indonesia,” Kamaruddin firmly said.

Kamaruddin  also acknowledged strategic role of the UIII as treasury of Islam in Indonesia. With the UIII, foreign students are expected to know and study Indonesian Islam which is relevant and importance, he added.

“The UIII will introduce Islam which is rahmatan lil alamin (blessing on the universe and humanity) that has not been properly communicated to the international world. The international community only knows Islam developed in the Middle East, not the one developed in Indonesia. Therefore, as an educational institution, the UIII plays a strategic role in promoting Islam which is rahmatan lil alamin,” he added.

In the meantime, Director of Islamic Higher Education of Ministry of Religious Affairs Arskal Salim stated that the UIII will be built in a 143 hectares area that includes the development of Basic Academic Facilities, Supporting Academic Facilities, and Cultural Conservation and Exhibition Facilities.

“UIII will offer a range of Postgraduate Magister (S2), and Doctoral (S3) degrees from various faculties, such as Islamic Studies, Humanities, Social Sciences, Science and Technology, Economics and Finance, Education, and Applied and Fine Arts,” Arskal added.

“New admissions process of UIII is targeted to begin in the 2019/2020 academic year. In the first year, there will be three faculties, school of Islamic studies, education, and political science,” he concluded. (Ministry of Religious Affairs PR/EN) (RAS/EP/Naster)