Indonesia
Doctoral Program in Multicultural Islamic Religious Education (PAI) at Universitas Islam Malang (Unisma) held a book review of “Conflict, Peace, and Conflict Resolution” on Sunday (7 September). The book, written by Unisma’s Director of Postgraduate program and published by Kompas Publishing, was reviewed by a leading scholar in Islamic education, Prof. Dr. Maskuri, M.Si.
In his opening remarks, the Postgraduate Director emphasised that conflict is an inevitable part of human life. However, peace and multiculturalism, he said, offer unifying solutions to social tensions.
“Peace and multiculturalism share the same ingredients: mutual assistance, tolerance, and respect,” he stressed.
He also highlighted the importance of reorienting religious education toward empirical realities, including a more comprehensive examination of the role of Kiai (Islamic scholars) and educational approaches in order to gain a balanced understanding of both their positive and negative dimensions.
Unisma Rector Prof. Junaidi Mistar was also present and shared reflections on the long journey involved in establishing PAI Doctoral Program. He recalled the extensive process of submitting the program’s nomenclature to the Directorate of Islamic Higher Education (Diktis), which eventually laid the foundation for the doctoral program.
“Today, PAI Doctoral Program has produced 132 doctoral graduates and has become a reference for other universities, including for interdisciplinary approaches at UIN Malang,” he said.
Opening remarks by the Chair of the Organising Committee and Head of the S3 PAI Program, Prof. Dr. Djunaidi Ghony, M.A.
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Remarks and official opening of the event by Rector Prof. H. Junaidi Mistar, M.Pd., Ph.D.
The book review session was moderated by Dr. Dwi Fitri Wiyono, M.Pd., who also offered key insights into how the book can serve as a reference for curriculum development across macro-, meso-, and micro-level education policies.
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As the keynote speaker, Prof. Dr. Maskuri, M.Si. not only examined the substance of the book but also presented a paper entitled “The Genealogy of Multicultural Islamic Education,” which traced the historical roots and contemporary relevance of multicultural approaches in Islamic education.
The event was attended by more than 100 alumni and enlivened by a performance from Shoutun Nada Music Group, creating an atmosphere of enthusiasm and intellectual engagement.
The book review served as both an intellectual and reflective forum, fostering collective awareness of the importance of peace in a pluralistic society and underscoring the strategic role of religious education in managing conflict constructively.
