Russian Islamic University Interest to Send Students to Study Islamic Psychology and Sharia Economics at UIN Jakarta

Kazan, UIN News Online — Russian Islamic University (RIU), one of the Russian Islamic universities located in Kazan City, Republic of Tarstan, is interested in sending its students to study Psychology and Economics and Islamic Banking at UIN Jakarta. Studying at UIN Jakarta is considered relevant to the needs of enriching the perspective of the Psychology curriculum as well as meeting the needs of the majority Muslim community of Tarstan for sharia economy.

Such was the common thread of the meeting between the Rector of UIN Jakarta, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar M.A. Ph.D and the team during their visit to RIU, Kazan, Tuesday (3/9/2024), as part of a series of visits to expand international cooperation to various Russian higher education and research institutions. The team accompanying the Rector on this visit were the Rector's Special Staff Prof. Kusmana M.A. Ph.D. and the Head of the International Cooperation Service Center and Prof. Maila Dinia Husni Rahiem.

RIU itself is listed as one of the pioneering institutions of higher education in the Russian region after the Soviet era. Established in 1998, the university offers undergraduate and postgraduate education in a number of fields such as Theology, Language, Communication and Journalism, Information Technology, Education, and others.

UIN Jakarta Rector and team were warmly welcomed by RIU Rector, Dr. Mukhametshin Rafik Mukhametshovichn, along with vice rectors such as Vice Rector for Research Zakirov Rafis Rafaelevich and a number of other teaching staff. In his meeting, the Rector of UIN Jakarta was greeted with a warm Indonesian greeting “Apakabar?” from the hosts, considering that one of the RIU teaching staff, Dr. Renat, is a graduate of the State Islamic Religious University (PTKIN) in Indonesia.

In his speech, Rector Asep Jahar expressed his happiness as well as UIN Jakarta's commitment in building global academic partnerships with various international universities. UIN Jakarta as one of the state Islamic religious universities under the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia is ready to conduct academic collaboration.

RIU Rector himself welcomed the visit of UIN Jakarta Rector and team. According to him, this visit is an honor for RIU because it has been visited by one of the oldest and largest state Islamic universities in Indonesia.

Rector Rafik Mukhametshin also expressed his interest in sending their students to study Psychology and Economics and Islamic Banking to UIN Jakarta. In Russia, he explained, psychology is generally taught using Western theories.

“And we see the importance of enriching the students' academic perspectives with Islamic values and approaches that are more relevant to the cultural and religious context of the local Muslim community,” he said.

In addition, the discussion also highlighted the importance of developing study programs in Islamic economics and banking. In the context of Russian society, especially in Tatarstan which has a significant Muslim population, Islamic banking is starting to receive great attention. Tatarstan sees Islamic banking as a solution that complies with Islamic values in financial management, and RIU is committed to being a pioneer in this field through cooperation with UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.

As part of this historic visit, RIU also invited UIN Jakarta to send their students to participate in international competitions to be held in November this year. The competitions include Arabic Language Competition, Usul Fiqh, and various other competitions, which are expected to strengthen academic ties between the two universities.

Furthermore, the parties agreed that this meeting can strengthen the relationship between UIN Jakarta and RIU while paving the way for wider cooperation in the development of Islamic education. Through international support and collaboration, both institutions are committed to jointly advancing relevant and innovative Islamic education in this era of globalization. (Maila DHR/ZM/PIH Report)