IAEI-UIN Palangka Raya Collaboration Establishes First Branch in Central Kalimantan
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The Indonesian Association of Islamic Economics Experts (IAEI) will establish its first secretariat in Central Kalimantan, specifically on the campus of the State Islamic University (UIN) Palangka Raya. The Central Board of the Indonesian Association of Islamic Economics Experts (IAEI) stated that this step is an effort to collaborate in advancing Islamic economics.
IAEI General Secretary, Sutan Emir Hidayat, stated that the main discussion has focused on how to build a formal institutional foundation structurally, while remaining vibrant in students’ daily activities. In his presentation, Emir highlighted that the initiative to form this branch holds considerable importance, particularly in the context of expanding IAEI’s networks in Central Kalimantan.
“This will be the establishment of the first branch in Central Kalimantan,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Secretary for Organisational Development, Regional Development, and Branch Affairs, Mega Oktaviany, emphasised the importance of continuity between organisations at the campus level. Organisations such as KSEI and FoSSEI are considered to play a crucial role as initial cadre-building spaces, and IAEI can serve as a bridge to broader professional networks.
Collaboration between these organisations is key to ensuring that the Islamic economic movement among students does not operate in isolation. Indeed, the main strength of the branch, beyond its organisational structure, lies in its ability to mobilise the student community.
“KSEI and FoSSEI can serve as the initial foundation for developing IAEI on campus, making its direction more structured and sustainable,” Mega asserted.
Furthermore, the established IAEI branch is expected not only to be active within the campus but also to build external relations from the outset with various economic institutions in the region, such as Bank Indonesia, the Financial Services Authority, the Regional Committee for Islamic Economics and Finance (KDEKS), local government, and the financial industry.
This approach is deemed important to open up more concrete collaboration opportunities, ranging from educational activities and research to community empowerment programmes.
Vice Dean III of FEBI UIN Palangka Raya, Wahyu Akbar, stated that this initiative is inseparable from his personal enthusiasm as an alumnus of Islamic economics, the drive to contribute to building Central Kalimantan, and the support from the Rector of UIN Palangka Raya, Prof. Dr. H. Ahmad Dakhoir, M.H.I.
Wahyu views the strengthening of networks like IAEI as a sufficiently important starting point for the region’s potential to develop more optimally through an Islamic economic approach.
“Hopefully, with the establishment of the IAEI UIN Palangka Raya branch, it can become a pioneer and catalyst for building Islamic economics in Central Kalimantan,” Wahyu expressed.
The agenda of this meeting goes beyond conceptual discussions to include concrete steps for strengthening the student community base, mapping regional collaboration potential, and designing relevant work programmes aligned with local needs.
This visit marks that the development of Islamic economics cannot rely solely on policies or large institutions but also requires a movement that grows from campuses and student communities. With this branch formation initiative, UIN Palangka Raya is expected to become one of the initial points for the birth of a more inclusive and sustainable Islamic economic ecosystem in the Central Kalimantan region.