Contributor/Photo: Achmad Jatnika | Editor: Dadi Darmadi
Depok, Indonesia – A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), led by Director-General for Madaris Education, Tahir G. Nalg, and Director-General for Basic Education, Marjunni M. Maddi visited UIII on Thursday, April 24, 2025, to explore and benchmark in Islamic education and studies.
The delegation was warmly received by Dr. Phil. Syafiq Hasyim, Vice-Rector for Academic, Human Resources, and Student Affairs of UIII, alongside Prof. Nina Nurmila, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Dr. Bahrul Hayat, former Vice-Rector for Academics, Human Resources, and Student Affairs of UIII (2019–2024), and Zezen Zaenal, Ph.D., the Head of the Master’s Program in Islamic Studies. The discussion is in the area of emphasizing UIII’s commitment to advancing Islamic education.
Dr. Phil. Syafiq expressed his enthusiasm for the visit, stating that it marked a significant step toward strengthening academic ties between Indonesia and the Bangsamoro region. “UIII is honored to host this delegation and share our experiences in Islamic higher education. We believe that collaboration in Islamic studies and teacher training can greatly benefit both institutions,” he said.
The discussions centered on UIII’s approach to Islamic education, its curriculum development, and research initiatives in Islamic studies. The MBHTE-BARMM delegation expressed keen interest in learning from UIII’s model, particularly in integrating the study of Islam from the Middle East and Indonesian Islam, as well as the digital Islam that UIII has been doing in the past year.
Mr. Tahir said that they’re at UIII to bring the importance of modernizing and opening up the global trend. He sees that UIII has been doing excellent in its Islamic education, like the digital Islam. “[UIII] is perhaps the most modern way of living in Islam,” he said at the meeting.
Dr. Bahrul Hayat, who played a pivotal role in shaping UIII’s academic framework, shared insights on the university’s growth and its vision as a leading institution for Islamic higher education. Dr. Bahrul will also help the MBHTE-BARMM modernize Islamic education in Mindanao. “Of course, with the help of Brother Bahrul in developing our educational system. Inshallah, we can go,” said Mr. Tahir.
The MBHTE-BARMM delegation expressed gratitude for the hospitality and knowledge shared during the visit. They emphasized their commitment to enhancing Islamic education in Mindanao and saw UIII as a valuable partner in achieving this goal.
As UIII continues to establish itself as a hub for Islamic scholarship, collaborations with international institutions like MBHTE-BARMM reinforce its mission of promoting knowledge, tolerance, and academic excellence in the Muslim world. The visit also explored potential joint programs, the MBHTE-BARMM is interested in sending their prospective students to study at UIII.
Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia
