AICIS 2018: PTKI Must must be more responsive to changes

Palu, UIN NEWS Online - Islamic Religious University (PTKI) in the country must be more responsive to change if it wants be the center of Islamic world science. Redesigning the curriculum, scientific contextualization, strengthening methodologies, and strengthening dissertation are a set of prerequisites that must be met by PTKI if it is to realize the dream.

That was the conclusion of UIN Online NEWS from the presentation of a number of speakers in the opening discussion of The 18th Annual International Conference on Islamic Studies (AICIS), Monday night (17/09/2018). The discussion, which was held at the IAIN Datokarama Main Auditorium, Palu, Central Sulawesi, was a warm-up discussion of the 2018 AICIS forum entitled Islam in Globalizing World: Text, Knowledge, and Practice.

The discussion was guided by the Director of Islamic Higher Education, Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia and Professor of UIN Jakarta Prof. Dr. Arskal Salim GP MA. Some experts become professors like two professors of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Prof. Dr. Amin Abdullah and Prof. Dr. H.M. Machasin MA.

The discussion also presented by professors and lecturers of the Faculty of Adab and Humanities of UIN Jakarta who also serve the Expert Staff of the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Oman Fathurrahman and Dr. Amelia Fauzia. Also became the speaker of the Director General of Islamic Education Prof. Dr. Kamaruddin Amin.

Two Sunan Kalijaga UIN Professors highlighted the importance of PTKI designing the Islamic study curriculum in PTKI. This redesign is needed so that the teaching of Islamic studies is not monotonous and according to the tendency of present and future generations.

"The Islamic Studies curriculum must be redesigned. Because the character and problematic tendencies of the present generation, also future, are different from the generation 30 years ago," Amin said.

In addition, Islamic studies must also be sensitive to problems in the midst of society. According to Machasain, Islamic studies cannot stand alone, but need to link themselves with the deepest problems that continue to develop in the community.

"We remember that one family in Surabaya died of suicide. PTKI should think, how can one family commit suicide? What are the religious values ​​in the family? "He explained.

PTKI Islamic Studies also need to be more distinctive. This, as exemplified by Oman, highlighted Islamic studies in the philology discipline which had been the domination of Western scholars. According to him, Indonesian Islam is a fairly extensive research field which has so far been mostly done by world scholars from Western universities.

Strengthening the methodology is also an important prerequisite that needs to be addressed by PTKI academics. "PTKI's Islamic scholarly research themes are actually quite interesting, but methodological weaknesses often become obstacles," Amelia added, who is now a Visiting Senior Research Fellow in the Religion and Globalization, National University of Singapore.

Meanwhile, Kamaruddin said that the development of Islamic studies in Indonesia becomes an important thing in fulfilling the expectations of the Islamic community in the country and the world will strengthen the role of Indonesian Islam in the world. According to him, this development must be carried out in the spirit of Islamic integration and knowledge.

"PTKI should create scholars who master the traditional heritage of Islam, so they did not stutter with modern science," he concluded. (usa)