Contributor: ANJ | Editor: Dadi Darmadi
As a follow-up of the earlier signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the representatives of Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) paid a visit to Al-Qasimia University in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) aimed at effectuating the academic cooperation, whilst also exploring a potentially shared vision on being academic centers of the future development of Islam in the global arena.
Led by Rector Prof. Komaruddin Hidayat, the UIII delegation was warmly welcomed at Al-Qasimia University on February 28, 2023, by the university’s Chancellor His Excellency Prof. Dr. Awad Al Khalaf. This meeting marks the start of a more elaborative discussion on the realization of the MoU, ranging from research collaboration, educational and student visits, Arabic language teaching, and the exchange of academic strategies.
During the visit, the UIII representatives also discussed the role of Al-Qasimiya University in promoting the ideas of Islamic moderation, whilst highlighting its strength as the House of Islamic manuscripts that offers excellent educational facilities for students from all over the world.
Conveying his impression, Prof. Komaruddin asserted that both UAE and Al-Qasimiya University provide a high potential for Islam's resurgence which could become the hope of Islamic civilization in the Arab world.
"While the narratives of the Arab world are full of wars and conflicts, [contrarily] here [UAE and Al Qasimia university) displays the peace, cooperation, harmony, and respect for diversity," the Rector said, adding that the UIII-Al-Qasimia partnership would highly empower each other’s presence.
Being newly-established universities, both UIII and Al-Qasimia are exploring the potentially shared vision of becoming the academic centers of future development of moderate and peaceful Islam with rahmatan lil alamin values (mercy for all) in the global arena.
The UIII’s visit to UAE is a follow-up of the MoU signed by the two parties at the UIII campus in Depok, West Java, on December 14, 2022. During his visit to UIII, Al-Qasimia University Chancellor Prof. Dr. Awad Al Khalaf was accompanied by Dr. Zakaria Noah, the Director of the Office of International Relations and Student Attraction. (ANJ)