Bangsamoro Delegation Explores Islamic Higher Education Practices at UIN Jakarta

Main Meeting Room, UIN News Online – UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta warmly welcomed a delegation from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Philippines, on Monday (21/04/2025). The visit was held as part of a benchmarking program focusing on Islamic education systems, particularly the development of Islamic higher education and the implementation of Islamic Religious Education (PAI) curricula in Indonesia — including program development and administrative management.

The meeting, was attended by university leadership, including UIN Jakarta Rector, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, M.A., Ph.D., Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Tholabi, S.Ag., S.H., M.H., M.A., Vice Rector for Cooperation and Institutional Development, Din Wahid, M.A., Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Educational Sciences (FITK), Prof Siti Nurul Azkiyah, M.Si., Ph.D., and the FITK vice deans. From the Bangsamoro side, participants included Director General for Higher Education, Marjuni M. Maddi, leadership from the Bangsamoro Kulliyyah for Islamic Studies, and several members of the BARMM delegation.

In his welcoming remarks, Rector Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar expressed appreciation for the visit, stating that the benchmarking visit reflected a shared commitment to enhancing the quality and relevance of Islamic education.

“It is an honor to welcome the delegation from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. This visit reflects our joint aspiration to build an Islamic education system that is both high in quality and responsive to contemporary developments,” he said.

He also underscored the importance of international cooperation in promoting moderate, inclusive Islamic studies, in line with UIN Jakarta’s mission as a center for knowledge development grounded in Islamic values.

“Cross-border academic cooperation is crucial, particularly in developing Islamic studies that can respond to the challenges of our era while remaining rooted in noble values. UIN Jakarta is committed to fostering an open, tolerant, and globally connected academic environment that promotes intercultural and international dialogue,” Prof. Asep added.

On behalf of the visiting delegation, Marjuni M. Maddi conveyed his gratitude and highlighted the significance of learning from one of Indonesia’s foremost Islamic educational institutions.

“It is a privilege to visit UIN Jakarta and to learn from your experience in managing progressive and inclusive Islamic higher education institutions. Through this benchmarking visit, we hope to gather valuable insights on curriculum management, program development, and institutional governance,” he stated.

He emphasized that such collaborations are essential in strengthening the capacity of Islamic educational institutions in Bangsamoro and in nurturing knowledgeable, moderate, and globally engaged future generations.

“This benchmarking initiative is a valuable platform for sharing ideas, exchanging experiences, and adopting best practices in Islamic program management, curriculum design, and institutional administration. We hope this partnership extends beyond this forum, paving the way for collaborative research, faculty and student exchanges, and institutional capacity building,” Marjuni added.

Also present was Dean of FITK, Prof. Siti Nurul Azkiyah, M.Si., Ph.D., who welcomed the visit as an important opportunity for academic exchange, particularly in advancing Islamic education curriculum development.

In her presentation, she outlined the profile of FITK, which currently offers academic and professional education programs at undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and professional levels, covering 18 study programs and a total of 7,317 students.

“FITK is strongly committed to developing teacher education that emphasizes not only competence but also character building and universal human values. We are ready to support collaborative research, knowledge exchange, and human resource development initiatives with educational institutions in Bangsamoro,” she explained.

According to Prof Siti, the visit reflects the potential for meaningful international cooperation through academic initiatives that contribute to the advancement of Islamic education with broad and lasting impact.

This activity is part of UIN Jakarta’s continuous efforts to foster international academic relations, particularly within Southeast Asia, while reinforcing the strategic role of Islamic universities in nurturing harmonious, sustainable civilizations.