Closing Visit to Germany: Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen Ready to Become UIN Jakarta's Partner

Jakarta, UIN News Online- UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta received an academic partnership commitment from Justus Liebig University Giessen in a series of university leadership visits to Germany, Monday-Friday (13-17/11/2023). Various faculties and institutions within UIN Jakarta can follow up on the partnership commitment in accelerating their respective academic development.

This is the report of the visit led directly by Rector Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar M.A., Ph.D received by UIN News Online, Monday (20/11/2023). Also accompanying the visit were Vice Rector for General Administration Prof. Dr. Imam Subchi M.A., Vice Rector for Cooperation and Institutional Development Din Wahid M.A., Ph.D, and Head of International Cooperation Service Center Prof. Maila Dinia Husni Rahiem M.A., Ph.D..

Professor Maila, in her written statement, revealed that the visit of the UIN Jakarta leadership group was carried out in line with the invitation of Professor Yasar Sarikaya. He is a Professor of Islamic Education as well as Head of the Islamische Theologie hre Didaktik (Islamic Theology and Its Didactics) Study Program, Faculty of Geschichts- und Kulturwissenschaften (History and Cultural Studies).

While the visit of UIN Jakarta itself was received by Prof. Dr. Naime Cakir-Mattner (Head of the Religion and Social Work Project of the Islamische Theologie hre Didaktik Study Program), Head of Administration of the Islamic Theology and Its Didactis Study Program Dorothea Ermett M.A., and Assistant Professors Yasar Sarikaya, Mehmet Soyhun.

In his presentation, Professor Naime revealed that the Islamic Theology and Its Didactis Study Program organizes education and training for primary school teachers for Islamic religious education subjects. These subjects are mainly provided in the contemporary type of Islamic religious education, which focuses not on the traditional mediation of religious content, but on the religious maturity of individuals.

In addition, the study program also offers teaching of the scientific and didactic foundations and competencies required for teachers. Its central contents include the primary sources of Islam, religious practices, as well as Islamic religious education and subject didactics.

The curriculum of the study program is enhanced through various workshops on Islamic aesthetics (such as calligraphy). Since March 2013, Giessen University in cooperation with the Hessian Ministry of Education has offered a one-year postgraduate program for Islamic teachers who are already teachers.

Furthermore, Professor Naime revealed that the study program has two main research programs, namely the Religion and Social Work Project and the Islamic Education Project. Each is coordinated by Professor Naime Cakir-Mattner and Professor Yasar Sarikaya.

Professor Naime was also very interested when it was conveyed that UIN Jakarta has a Social Welfare Study Program. At Giessen University, he encouraged the opening of a Social Work Study Program with the specialty of Islamic religious personal care or Islamic personal assistance), for patients and people who need religious support.

"We hope to exchange ideas and experiences and collaborate in teaching and research with UIN Jakarta's Social Welfare Study Program," he said.

Meanwhile, Dorothea Ermett M.A. encouraged UIN Jakarta lecturers to conduct research at Giessen University. According to her, Giessen University provides funding assistance for lecturers from world universities to research or teach for 1-6 months at Giessen University.

The person in charge of Erasmus activities and the submission of visiting professor or fellow Giessen University added, it also encourages student mobility program for UIN Jakarta students, especially for the concentration of Islamic Theology and Its Didactiss. He hopes this program can run in the coming academic year.

Representing Professor Yasar Sarikaya, Mehmet Soyhun, encouraged cooperation in writing a book on hadith education for international readers. Responding to the invitation, Rector Asep Jahar himself was interested in writing about the hadiths of philanthropy.

"In addition to various cooperation commitments from various universities and library centers, the German visit also produced written works that will be published in books published by world publishers," said Professor Maila.

Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen is one of the oldest universities in Germany, established in 1607. Since its establishment, this university has graduated many alumni with significant work such as Justus Liebig (chemist), Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (physicist who invented X-rays and Nobel laureate), Wilhelm Wien (Nobel laureate physicist), Georg Haas (inventor of the hemodialysis or dialysis process), and others.

In its development, the university opened at least 11 faculties, namely the Faculty of Legal Sciences, the Faculty of Economic Sciences, the Faculty of Social and Cultural Sciences, the Faculty of Psychology and Sport Sciences, the Faculty of Veterinary (Animal) Medicine, and the Faculties of General Medicine and Dentistry. The 396th-ranked QS World Ranking university accommodates 25,000 students with 3,120 of them international students. (Maila Dinia Husni Rahiem/FNH/ZM Report)