UIN Jakarta Hosts "Closer Relations, Stronger Cooperations" Seminar to Mark 45 Years of Indonesia-Kenya Diplomatic Ties
Diorama room, UIN News Online — UIN Jakarta celebrated a remarkable milestone in Indonesia-Kenya diplomatic relations with the international seminar titled "Closer Relations, Stronger Cooperations," held at the Diorama Room on Thursday (10/10/2024). Organized to honor 45 years of bilateral ties, the event emphasized the importance of international collaboration in education and diplomacy, particularly with Kenya, one of Indonesia's key partners in East Africa.
As a campus committed to international engagement, UIN Jakarta has steadily advanced its global network, having established educational ties with Kenya’s Umma University in 2021. The collaboration has since expanded, with events such as the International Conference on Islamic and Interdisciplinary Studies (ICIIS) in 2022 and a recent visit by Prof. Maila Dinia Husni Rahiem, Head of the UIN Jakarta International Cooperation Service Center (PLKI), to Kenya to promote UIN Jakarta’s academic programs.
Rector of UIN Jakarta, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, Indonesian Ambassador to Kenya Dr. H.E. Mohamad Hery Saripudin, Kenyan Ambassador to Indonesia H.E. Galma Mukhe Boru, and Director of Africa Affairs at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dewi Justicia Meidiwaty opened the seminar with remarks highlighting the significance of bilateral cooperation.
In his address, Prof. Asep Jahar emphasized the value of educational diplomacy in fostering Indonesia-Kenya relations. He stated that joint initiatives could span various fields, including student exchanges, collaborative research, and visiting professorships. "The cooperation between UIN Jakarta and the Islamic University of Kenya has the potential not only to benefit our institutions but also to contribute to the broader academic community globally," Prof. Asep noted. He added that UIN Jakarta offers a wide range of programs, including both Islamic studies and general disciplines, and invites young Kenyans to pursue education at UIN Jakarta.
Reflecting on UIN Jakarta's trajectory towards global excellence, Prof. Asep shared that the university recently ranked in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024 for Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies, placing it among the top Islamic universities worldwide.
Ambassador Hery Saripudin highlighted the longstanding history of Indonesia-Kenya relations, which began in 1979 and witnessed a pivotal year in 2022 with the signing of seven MoUs encompassing areas such as diplomacy, media, and education. The cooperation between UIN Jakarta and Umma University in Kenya marked a new phase, which now extends to the Islamic University of Kenya.
Kenyan Ambassador Galma Mukhe Boru acknowledged Indonesia’s vast potential on the global stage and the historical connections between both countries as former colonies. Director Dewi Justicia Meidiwaty from Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the strategic opportunities opened through the Indonesia-Africa Forum, with educational partnerships serving as an important foundation for diplomatic ties.
The seminar continued with the signing of an MoU between UIN Jakarta and the Islamic University of Kenya, followed by a series of talks from notable speakers. Faisal Nurdin Idris, Ph.D a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at UIN Jakarta, discussed the role of youth in sustaining bilateral political relations. Ir. Iskandar Panjaitan, Director General of Foreign Trade, shared insights on strengthening trade, while Dandy Rafitrandi from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) highlighted opportunities for Indonesian products in the Kenyan market.
In educational diplomacy, Prof. Ali Said Sunkar, Vice Chancellor of the Islamic University of Kenya, discussed how university collaborations could further cultural relations between the two nations. The seminar concluded with a personal account from Charity Maina, a Kenyan student studying at the University of Indonesia, sharing her experiences of studying in Indonesia.
The event wrapped up with a lively Q&A session, giving participants a chance to engage deeply with the speakers. Hermanudin)
Event Documentation:
(Aji Pangestu/Fauziah M./Dzihan Aufa Kilmi Firdausi/Photo: Melva Evangelyn, Hermanudin)