UIN Jakarta and Islamic University of Kenya Agree on Cooperation in Islamic Fields

Rectorate Building, UIN News Online- UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta and the Islamic University of Kenya (IUK) initiated the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop knowledge and education in the Islamic field. The MoU will be signed by the Rector of UIN Jakarta, Prof. Dr. Asep Saepudin Jahar, and the Rector of IUK, Dr. Ali Sunkar, with desk-to-desk procedures in the near future.

The cooperation commitment was obtained during the visit of UIN Jakarta's visit team led by the Head of LP2M UIN Jakarta International Cooperation Service Center, Prof. Maila Dinia Husni Rahiem M.A. Ph.D to Kenya (08-12/12/2023). According to her, this collaboration is a form of UIN Jakarta's commitment to contribute to the development of science and education in the Islamic world.

For the record, UIN Jakarta is one of the leading Islamic universities in Indonesia and Asia, which has 12 faculties, 1 graduate school, and more than 34,000 students from various regions and countries.

Meanwhile, IUK is one of the largest Islamic universities in Kenya, which was established in 2022 with a mission to provide quality education based on Islamic values2. IUK has 6 faculties, namely the Faculty of Sharia and Law, Faculty of Economics and Management, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, and Faculty of Arts and Humanities.

In her statement, Professor Maila revealed that the agreed cooperation is aimed at improving the quality of academic and research in the field of Islam, as well as to share knowledge and experience. "In addition, this collaboration also aims to develop programs that benefit the community, especially in Indonesia and Kenya," she said.

This cooperation, he continued, will cover several areas of cooperation, namely lecturer and student exchanges, curriculum and study program development, joint research, scientific publications, seminars and conferences. This cooperation will also support the development of scientific integration and religious moderation in both universities.

Professor Maila added that this collaboration is an important step to strengthen the relationship between Indonesia and Kenya, especially in the field of Islamic education. "We really appreciate IUK as one of our strategic partners in Africa. We hope that this collaboration can have a positive impact for both parties and also for Muslims around the world," said Prof. Maila.

IUK Rector, Dr. Ali Sunkar, also welcomed this collaboration and said that IUK really needs UIN Jakarta's help in assisting the development of scientific integration and religious moderation in Kenya. He hoped that this MoU can be the beginning of a broader and sustainable cooperation between the two universities.

"We are very grateful to UIN Jakarta for giving us the opportunity to help develop scientific integration and religious moderation in Kenya. We hope that this collaboration can enhance the academic capacity and competence of both universities, as well as open new opportunities for future cooperation," he said. (Maila DHR/FNH)