68 Years of UIN Jakarta: Remembering the Legacy of 14 Rectors
UIN Jakarta, UIN Online News — From its establishment as the Akademi Dinas Ilmu Agama (ADIA) on June 1, 1957, until its transformation into the State Islamic University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, its journey has been inseparable from the visionary leaders who held the position of rector. Besides serving as the driving force for campus institutional development, they were, in essence, intellectuals who played a significant role in fostering renewal, implementing Islamic and Indonesian values, and initiating the development of Islamic campuses in the country.
As part of the commemoration of 68 Years of ADIA/IAIN/UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, the journalism team of the Information & Public Relations Center of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta attempts to present the profiles of these 14 rectors through the ages. Here is the report compiled by the journalists:
The first name to lead this campus was Prof. Dr. Mahmud Yunus (1957–1960). A pioneering scholar of modern Islamic education who completed his studies at Al-Azhar University and Cairo University, Egypt, he was the first leader of this campus. Professor Mahmud Yunus was appointed as the leader when the campus was newly established under the name Academy of Islamic Religious Service (ADIA). With his study experience and scholarly career, Mahmud Yunus laid crucial foundations for the development of this campus. As a Muslim intellectual in the early era, Professor Mahmud Yunus also made significant scholarly contributions to the development of Islamic religious education within the national curriculum. He wrote dozens of works to fulfill the literary needs of Indonesia's young Muslim generation, some of which are still referenced and used today, such as Tafsir Qur'an Karim and Kamus Arab-Indonesia.
When ADIA was merged as part of PTAIN al-Jamiah in the 1960s, this campus notably had a rector with a background as a figure in the independence movement and a skilled diplomat, Prof. Mr. Sunario Sastrowardoyo (1960–1963). This important figure, who took part in the Youth Pledge of 1928 and the Asian-African Conference, brought a spirit of nationalism into the newly formed Islamic higher education institution. Before becoming rector, this recipient of the Meester in de Rechten (Mr) degree in law from Leiden University held several important positions, such as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia (1953-1955) and Indonesian Ambassador to England (1956-1961). With this experience, Mr. Sunario successfully instilled the value of cosmopolitanism within IAIN from its very beginning.
However, the merger of these two higher education institutions did not last long. The government decided to re-separate PTKINs based on Presidential Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 27 of 1963. Subsequently, the Minister of Religious Affairs of Indonesia issued Minister of Religious Affairs Decree Number 49 of 1963 dated February 25, 1963, to name them IAIN Sunan Kalijaga in Yogyakarta and IAIN Syarif Hidayatulah in Jakarta.
In line with that, Prof. Drs. Soenardjo Abu Ngusman (1963-1969), a national figure with extensive experience, was appointed to lead IAIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. Professor Soenardjo was actually a professor of economics who also played a role in the birth of the Faculty of Economics at Gadjah Mada University. Before being appointed as Rector of IAIN Syarif Hidayatullah, Professor Soenardjo was entrusted with several important positions in the government. Throughout 1957-1958, he was appointed Minister of Trade of Indonesia, then entrusted to be the Indonesian Ambassador to Brazil. With his scholarly background and experience, Professor Soenardjo brought a sincere and egalitarian leadership character in building the early foundations of IAIN.
After Professor Soenardjo completed his duties, the leadership of IAIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta was continued by Prof. Dr. Bustami Abdul Gani (1969–1970), a Muslim scholar specializing in tafsir (Qur'anic exegesis) and Arabic language. Professor Bustami Abdul Gani is known for his role in emphasizing the importance of strengthening the Islamic curriculum amidst the transformation of Islamic higher education. Previously, Professor Bustami Abdul Gani was the Dean of the Faculty of Adab at IAIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. A graduate of madrasahs and Middle Eastern universities (Saudi Arabia and Egypt), he had experience developing several educational institutions, starting his career as a teacher and leader of Madrasah Normal Islam Padang, founding Kulliyat ad-Diyanah in Bukittinggi, founding SMA Islam Bukittinggi, and Sekolah Dar al-Hikmah Bukittinggi.
After Professor Bustami Abdul Gani completed his duties, the leadership of IAIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta was continued by Prof. Dr. Mohammad Toha Yahya Omar (1970–1973). Although his leadership was brief, Professor Toha Yahya Omar significantly oversaw the academic continuity of IAIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. In his time, Professor Toha Yahya Omar initiated the establishment of IAIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta in accordance with the needs of the times. In early 1972, Professor Toha Yahya Umar formed the Comprehensive Madrasah Building Development Committee. Then, in June of the same year, coinciding with the III Lustrum of IAIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, the groundbreaking ceremony was performed by the Minister of Religious Affairs of Indonesia, Prof. H.A. Mukti Ali, and Rector Toha Yahya Umar to mark the construction of the madrasah building. Subsequently, on November 17, 1973, the madrasah building was completed and handed over from the Head of the Project Section for Assistance Development for Private Madrasahs in DKI Jakarta to IAIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.
Entering a new era of leadership, Prof. Dr. Harun Nasution (1973–1986) emerged as a figure who brought fundamental transformations in Islamic thought on campus. As a prominent rationalist intellectual, Harun Nasution brought a fresh wind of renewal in Islamic thought that enlightened and illuminated. Professor Harun Nasution's leadership was marked by the introduction of a rational approach to understanding Islam. His monumental work, Islam Rasional (Rational Islam), became the foundation for a campus intellectual movement whose influence is still felt today. He introduced critical thinking methodology in Islamic studies, encouraging students and lecturers not just to memorize texts, but to understand their context and relevance. His relatively long period of leadership allowed Professor Harun Nasution to instill a solid academic tradition. He successfully created a dynamic intellectual atmosphere, where discussions and scientific debates became an integral part of campus life. His legacy of rational and moderate Islam continues to inspire generations of Indonesian Muslim academics.
In the challenging political era of the New Order, Prof. Drs. Ahmad Syadali, M.A. (1986–1992) emerged as a leader capable of building bridges of communication between the Islamic academic world and state policy. His leadership was characterized by his ability to build harmonious relations between Muslims and the state, an achievement not easy in that era. Ahmad Syadali led IAIN into an era of stabilization and development, in line with the fervent national development spirit undertaken by the government. He deeply understood the strategic position of IAIN as a state Islamic higher education institution in the context of national development. During his leadership, Professor Ahmad Syadali successfully maintained a balance between the development of Islamic scholarship and national interests. He ensured that IAIN was not just an academic ivory tower but also an active contributor to nation-building. His diplomatic and wise leadership helped strengthen IAIN's position and reputation in the eyes of the government and the wider community.
Prof. Dr. M. Quraish Shihab, M.A. (1992–1998), a leading expert in Qur'anic exegesis, transformed IAIN into a center for Qur'anic studies. His leadership was known for its contextual and moderate approach to understanding Islam. Professor Dr. M. Quraish Shihab's leadership marked a new chapter in the development of Qur'anic studies and exegesis in Indonesia. This leading expert made IAIN a recognized center for Qur'anic studies not only nationally but also internationally. Professor Quraish Shihab's leadership was known for its contextual and moderate approach to understanding Islam. He introduced a methodology of exegesis that considered historical, social, and cultural contexts in understanding the verses of the Qur'an. This approach provided new enlightenment for academics and students in understanding Islamic teachings more comprehensively and relevantly. Under his leadership, IAIN experienced significant strengthening in the field of Qur'anic studies. He encouraged the development of study programs focused on Qur'anic and Hadith studies with high academic standards. His exegetical works such as Tafsir Al-Misbah became an important reference for Indonesian Muslims and demonstrated the academic quality produced by IAIN during his leadership.
In a brief but crucial transitional period, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Sukardja, M.A. (1998–2000) was entrusted with leading IAIN as an acting rector. As an academic and a Supreme Court Judge, Ahmad Sukardja brought high credibility and integrity to his short leadership. Although only leading temporarily, Professor Ahmad Sukardja's leadership period was marked by stability and continuity. His dual experience as an academic and a legal practitioner allowed him to maintain a balance between academic interests and regulatory demands. His integrity and scholarship colored his brief leadership, ensuring that IAIN remained on the right track during the transition period. His transitional leadership served as an important bridge between the previous era and the great transformation to come. He successfully maintained institutional stability while preparing the foundation for strategic changes to be implemented by his successor.
The True Transformer from IAIN to UIN, Prof. Dr. Azyumardi Azra, M.Phil., M.A. (2000–2006) is a true transformative figure in the history of this institution. Under his visionary leadership, IAIN officially transformed into UIN in 2002, a transformative leap that changed the face of Islamic higher education in Indonesia. Professor Azyumardi Azra made UIN Jakarta a pioneer in the integration of Islamic and modern sciences in Indonesia. His vision of "scientific integration" was not just a slogan but was materialized in a curriculum, study programs, and an academic atmosphere that combined traditional Islamic scholarship with modern scientific developments. The transformation from IAIN to UIN under his leadership was not just a name change but a revolution in the paradigm of Islamic higher education. He introduced general faculties such as Medicine, Psychology, and Science and Technology, which were integrated with Islamic values. His long leadership allowed this transformation to proceed systematically and sustainably. As a historian and public intellectual, Professor Azyumardi Azra was also active in national and international Islamic discourse. His worldwide reputation also elevated the name and prestige of UIN Jakarta on the global stage.
Islamic Philosopher and Public Intellectual, the leadership of Prof. Dr. Komaruddin Hidayat, M.A., Ph.D. (2006–2014) brought UIN Jakarta to a higher level on the national and international stage. As a prominent Islamic philosopher and public intellectual, he strengthened UIN's position as a center for progressive and relevant Islamic thought. Professor Komaruddin Hidayat is known for his ideas that have largely shaped contemporary Islamic discourse. His thoughts on interfaith dialogue, pluralism, and Islamic modernity made significant contributions to the development of moderate and inclusive Indonesian Islamic thought. Under his leadership, UIN Jakarta became increasingly known as an institution that produces high-quality Islamic thinkers. He encouraged the development of interdisciplinary research that combined Islamic scientific methodology with modern academic approaches. International programs and collaborations with leading universities worldwide were further strengthened. His charismatic personality and profound thinking made Professor Komaruddin Hidayat a respected figure not only among academics but also in the wider community. His contributions to the mass media and public forums helped increase UIN Jakarta's visibility and reputation.
Academic Bureaucrat and Education Thinker, Prof. Dr. Dede Rosyada, M.A. (2014–2019) brought rich experience as an academic bureaucrat and education thinker into his leadership at UIN Jakarta. The main focus of his leadership was strengthening academic management and institutional transformation to face the challenges of modern higher education. As someone who deeply understood the intricacies of education bureaucracy, Professor Dede Rosyada emphasized the importance of efficiency and effectiveness in institutional management. He led various administrative and academic reforms aimed at improving the quality of services and campus performance. During his leadership, UIN Jakarta underwent various improvements in academic information systems, standard operating procedures, and quality assurance mechanisms. He also encouraged human resource development through various training programs and capacity building for lecturers and educational staff. Professor Dede Rosyada's understanding of national and international educational dynamics enabled him to strategically position UIN Jakarta in the development of Indonesian higher education. His leadership, focused on managerial aspects, provided a strong foundation for UIN's future development.
Pioneer of Muslim Female Leadership, Prof. Dr. Amany Lubis, Lc., M.A. (2019–2023) made history as the first female rector of UIN Jakarta and even of PTKINs in Indonesia. Her presence symbolized the progress of women's roles in Islamic leadership and opened a new paradigm for academic leadership in Islamic higher education. As a scholar proficient in Arabic and with a deep understanding of Islamic studies, Professor Amany Lubis brought a fresh and inclusive perspective to her leadership. She was active in various international forums and successfully promoted campus inclusivity in various aspects. Her leadership was marked by strengthening programs that supported gender equality and women's empowerment. She also encouraged the development of gender-sensitive Islamic studies and addressed contemporary issues related to the role of women in Islam. At the international level, Professor Amany Lubis was active in various academic organizations and forums that strengthened UIN Jakarta's position on the global stage. Her inspiring leadership proved that women can lead Islamic higher education institutions brilliantly.
Internal Academician Towards World-Class Research University, Prof. Dr. Asep Saepudin Jahar, M.A., Ph.D. (2023–Present) is an academic who grew and developed from within UIN Jakarta. As a "native son" of this institution, he deeply understands the DNA, culture, and potential of UIN Jakarta to develop into a world-class research university. His current leadership carries the great mandate to lead UIN Jakarta towards a world-class research university with a vision of moderation and integration of knowledge. Professor Asep has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by UIN Jakarta in a competitive global era. With a solid academic background and international research experience, he encourages the strengthening of quality research that can make a real contribution to the development of knowledge and solutions to humanitarian problems. His vision of Islamic moderation is in line with the world's need for a peaceful and tolerant understanding of Islam. The strategic programs he initiated focus on strengthening research capacity, improving the quality of international publications, and developing sustainable innovation. His ongoing leadership is expected to bring UIN Jakarta to achieve a higher position in world university rankings.
The long journey of UIN Jakarta to date is inseparable from the contributions of these 14 rectors, each of whom gave color and direction. From struggle figures, moderate academics, to transformational leaders, they all formed a mosaic of history that continues to grow and be proud of. UIN Jakarta today is the result of their vision, dedication, and struggle—a state Islamic campus with deep roots, towering high.
(Rizkiyah Gustiana N./Zaenal M./Fauziah M./Noeni Indah S./Photo: PIH)