Japan highlights the role of Islamic higher education institutions in shaping Indonesia's educational foundation

Jakarta – The Embassy of Japan in Jakarta has highlighted the important role of Islamic higher education institutions in shaping the foundation of education in Indonesia.

“Islamic higher education institutions play a very significant role,” said Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Jakarta Myochin Mitsuru during a joint iftar (breaking of fast) gathering between the Japanese Embassy and Islamic leaders at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador in Jakarta on Monday.

Myochin stated that during his visit to Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII), he learned that in Indonesia, higher education institutions fall not only under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, but also under the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Islamic higher education institutions play a very significant role, as in addition to universities, he discovered more than 42,000 Islamic boarding schools (pondok pesantren) throughout Indonesia.

These pesantren have formed a crucial educational foundation in Indonesia. In an effort to strengthen relations and deepen brotherhood between Japan and Indonesia, the Japanese Embassy has implemented an invitation programme for pesantren leaders to visit Japan since 2004. To date, more than 190 people have participated in this programme. Furthermore, the Japanese Government has also invited young Muslim leaders.

This year, eight individuals from Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah, Istiqlal Mosque, and Universitas Islam Negeri have been invited to visit Tokyo and Nagasaki.

“We believe that grassroots citizen exchange such as this is an important means to strengthen international relations in the future,” Myochin said. He expressed hope that the joint iftar gathering would serve as a meaningful opportunity to strengthen friendship between Japan and the Islamic community in Indonesia.

For his part, Rector of Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) Jamhari Makruf expressed appreciation for the youth exchange programme conducted by the Japanese Embassy. According to him, the programme of visits by Islamic leaders to Japan is very meaningful, particularly for strengthening relations between the two countries.

He hoped the programme would continue so as to further strengthen brotherhood between Indonesian and Japanese communities. “Consider this: now the Japanese Embassy has 190 pesantren throughout Indonesia that can be friends. So if the Japanese Embassy or Japanese officials want to come to Indonesia, they can visit any of the pesantren that have been invited over time. That is an extraordinary asset,” he said.