01-02 February, 2016: International Conference on Islamisation and Integration of Knowledge in East and Southeast Asia co-organised by IIIT and UIN Ar Raniry, Banda Acheh

International Conference on Islamization and Integration of Knowledge in East and Southeast Asia was held on February 1, 2016. The Conference was co-organized by Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Ar Raniry, Banda Acheh and International Institute of Islamic Thought – East and Southeast Asia office. The main objective of the Conference was to discuss contemporary challenges and to prepare a broad working plan in the context of Islamization and Integration of Knowledge in this region. The Conference was attended by more than one hundred invited lecturers, educators and public officials.

Prof. Dr. Farid Wajdi Ibrahim, Rector UIN Ar Raniry in his keynote address stated that the people of Acheh are very proud with their history of Islamic Sultanate which was deeply rooted in Islamic knowledge and teaching. The period had produced well-known scholars such Ar Raniry and Abdul Rauf Singkil who left a legacy in scholarship and piety. The Rector then urged all academics in Acheh to emulate this scholarship tradition and then join hand together to contribute to the growth of Islam in this region.

The Conference was focusing on three broad topics namely a survey of Islamization process and experience in this region, challenges and prospects of establishing Islamic education in Muslim minority countries, and roles of Waqf in building educational institutions. Prof. Dr. Yusny Saby in his presentation reminisced the ‘high culture’ possessed by the early Muslims who successfully spread Islam to this region. He urged contemporary Muslims to strive hard to regain this ‘high culture’ in order to ensure the success of Islamization process. Dato’ Wira Dr. Jamil Osman shared his more than 30 years of experience in managing Islamic universities and pointed out several strategies on how Islamization of Knowledge can be implemented successfully in this region.

IIIT Country Representatives from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and the Philippines presented contemporary challenges in building Islamic educational institutions in their respective countries. They stated that there is a great need for teaching materials and teacher’s training for kindergarten, primary and secondary Islamic schools. They also stressed the need for translation, leadership training for the youth and parenting skills for newly married Muslim couples.

The last session featured speakers from Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia who shared their experiences and insights of setting up Islamic higher learning institutions based on Waqf. Successful models shown by Fatoni University Thailand, Universitas Darussalam Gontor and other institutions were highlighted. The presenters and audience agreed that Waqf is one of the strengths that need to be tapped from Muslim communities to set-up a financially stable and independent higher learning institutions.

Memorandum of Understanding was signed during the Conference by the Rector of UIN Ar Raniry and Regional Representative of IIIT for East and Southeast Asia as a symbol of commitment for future cooperation. The Conference ended with a positive note and a strong commitment by all participants to work together for the betterment of Muslim society in this region.