Azyumardi named honorary professor

Noted Muslim scholar Azyumardi Azra has been made an honorary professor by the University of Melbourne Australia.

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia David Ritchie, on behalf of the University of Melbourne, appointed Azyumardi in the position in Jakarta on Tuesday.

"With the appointment I wish to strengthen university to university relations, and to support studies on Islam and Asia in our neighboring country (Australia)," Azyumardi told The Jakarta Post.

Ritchie said he hoped to increase the number of exchanges between the two countries of students who wished to undertake doctorate degrees, especially those who focused on Islamic studies.

He said it was a great honor for Australia that the rector and professor of history at Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) in Jakarta would hold the position.

Azyumardi will be an honorary professor of the Australian university until March 2009.

"This appointment provide an opportunity to build better understanding among the people about the role of Islam in Indonesia, as well as strengthening the links between Islamic academic communities of both countries," he said.