AICIS+ 2025 Marks a New Era in Islamic, Scientific, and Societal Dialogue

July 9, 2025

Contributor: Supriyono | Editor: Dadi Darmadi | Graphic Designer: Fransiska Aprilya LM

The Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia officially launched the 24th Annual International Conference on Islam, Science, and Society (AICIS+) 2025, a rebranded version of the Annual International Conference on Islamic Studies (AICIS). Previously known as AICIS for its 23 prior editions, the conference is now called AICIS+ in 2025. This historic event will be held at the Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) campus in Depok, West Java, on October 29-31, 2025.

“Today we are launching AICIS+ 2025,” said Minister of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. KH. Nasaruddin Umar during the kickoff ceremony on July 9, 2025, at the Ministry’s Auditorium on Jalan MH Thamrin, Jakarta. “This new branding marks not only a significant milestone in the evolution of Islamic thought in Indonesia but also creates a platform for academic dialogue that is more attuned to global challenges and realities.”

As AICIS officially turned AICIS+, it marks a new chapter for the long-standing academic forum since 2021. Minister Nasaruddin said the new “plus” signifies a broader interdisciplinary scope, deeper global engagement, and a stronger commitment to exploring transformative ideas that respond to today’s complex challenges.

This year’s conference carries the theme, ‘Islam, Ecotheology, and Technological Transformations: Multidisciplinary Innovations for an Equitable and Sustainable Future.’ “This theme stems from our shared awareness of two big crises the world is facing: the crisis of dehumanization and the crisis of climate change,” the minister explained.

These issues were also articulated in the Istiqlal Declaration 2024, which underscored the vital role of religion in upholding human dignity and safeguarding the planet to create a more sustainable and peaceful future. “In the declaration, we agreed that spiritual values must be shown through solidarity, compassion, and care for all life,” the minister said.

Prof. Amien Suyitno, Director General of Islamic Education at the ministry, highlighted that the transformation to AICIS+ was a response to the rapidly changing world and increasingly complex global challenges. “We need to renew not only the format but also the vision of this conference. The new branding was agreed by the Steering Committee and the Organizing Committee during a coordination meeting,” he said.

Prof. Suyitno also stressed that the change goes deeper than just rebranding. “This transformation is not merely cosmetic,” he noted. “The ‘S’ that once stood for Studies has now been changed to Science, and another ‘S’ has been added for Society. This shows a new direction; Islamic scholarship must be ready to engage with science and address real problems faced by society.”

Rector of UIII, Prof. Jamhari, expressed his appreciation for the trust placed in the university. “We are honored that UIII will be the birthplace of this major transformation,” he said. “From AICIS to AICIS+, this change marks an important step toward a more inclusive forum. In this context, hosting AICIS+ is a natural extension of our mission, which is to bring together Islam, science, and society in conversations that are relevant to global issues.”

The rector also noted that this transformation represents a new chapter in history, and UIII is proud to be part of it. “This trust brings tremendous benefits to UIII, especially as a university that only began operating in 2021. Hosting AICIS+ on our campus strengthens UIII’s position as an international-standard university, committed to excellent research and global engagement.”