Azyumardi named honorary professor

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.