PTKIN Becomes Centre for Integrating Science and Islamic Spirituality
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Treasurer of the National Committee for New Student Admissions to State Islamic Religious Higher Education Institutions (PMB PTKIN) Rosihon Anwar stated that PTKIN are currently developing into centres for integrating knowledge and Islamic spirituality in Indonesia.
“PTKIN is not merely a religious educational institution, but also a centre of civilisation that combines spirituality with scientific excellence,” said Rosihon Anwar during a press conference on PTKIN New Student Admissions in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Rosihon explained that PTKIN are higher education institutions under the Ministry of Religious Affairs that provide academic, vocational, and professional education based on Islamic values.
According to him, PTKIN consist of three institutional forms: State Islamic Universities (UIN), State Islamic Institutes (IAIN), and State Islamic Colleges (STAIN).
UIN, he said, have the broadest scope of knowledge because they integrate religious sciences with general sciences such as medicine, engineering, and psychology.
Meanwhile, IAIN focus on the cluster of Islamic religious sciences with broader disciplines than colleges. STAIN, on the other hand, focus on specific branches of Islamic religious sciences.
Rosihon assessed that there is still a misconception that PTKIN only produce graduates with purely religious abilities.
“In fact, modern PTKIN have adopted an integrated science paradigm. Students not only delve into religious knowledge but also develop professional competencies in various fields,” he stated.
He gave examples of several faculties in PTKIN that are now developing fields of science and technology, Islamic economics and business, to medicine and health with an approach based on Islamic values and ethics.
According to him, science and technology faculties in PTKIN develop studies in biology, chemistry, and informatics grounded in Islamic ethics.
In addition, Islamic economics and business faculties produce graduates who understand sharia financial systems and the global economy, while medicine and health faculties emphasise Islamic bioethics in medical practice.
Rosihon added that PTKIN are also continuously transforming towards internationalisation and digitalisation to address global education challenges. He mentioned that strengthening religious moderation is one of the main pillars of PTKIN in building an understanding of inclusive, tolerant, and peaceful Islam.
“PTKIN serves as a fortress for an understanding of inclusive, tolerant, and peaceful Islam amid global polarisation. PTKIN is Indonesia’s export of moderate Islamic thought to the world,” he said.
Moreover, several PTKIN have now obtained international accreditation and established research collaborations with various universities in Europe, America, and the Middle East.
In the field of technology, he said, PTKIN are also developing the concept of smart campuses through digital transformation based on artificial intelligence (AI) and big data.
“This transformation is important so that PTKIN graduates can compete in the era of Industry Revolution 4.0 and 5.0,” said Rosihon.