Indonesia
The signing ceremony was conducted by Rector of IAI Ma’arif NU Metro Lampung and Rector of Unisma Malang on the 7th floor of Building B at Unisma on October 7, 2019. The event, which consisted of a seminar and signing of a cooperation agreement, began at 8:15 a.m. after participants from UNISMA’s postgraduate program and IAIM Ma’arif NU Metro Lampung’s postgraduate program had filled Hasyim Asyarie Conference Room. The seminar further enriched the academic atmosphere by discussing radicalism in Indonesia
The event, moderated by Ms. Dwi Ari Kurniawati, M.H., proceeded solemnly, particularly during the singing of the national anthem “Indonesia Raya” and the “Mars Shubbanul Wathan.” IAIM NU Metro Rector Dr. Mispani, M.Pd.I., expressed admiration for UNISMA’s success in becoming a leading NU campus in Indonesia.
In his speech, Prof. Maskuri, M.Si, warmly welcomed the delegation from the IAIM NU Metro Lampung Postgraduate Program, which consisted of the rector, the Director of the Postgraduate Program, faculty members, and postgraduate students.
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The Rector of UNISMA welcomed Dr. Mispani’s intention to make UNISMA a benchmark for IAIM NU Metro Lampung. The Rector of UNISMA expressed hope for a serious commitment if UNISMA is selected as the benchmark.
Prof. Maskuri, M.Si., expressed his readiness to accept an invitation to IAIM Metro, but he stipulated that the entire foundation leadership, officials, staff, and students also attend the presentation of UNISMA’s campus development strategy. The goal is to ensure a comprehensive presentation that prepares all campus stakeholders to actively pursue change.
The next agenda was signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by UNISMA Rector Prof. H. Maskuri, M.Si., the Rector of IAIM NU Metro, Dr. Mispani, M.Pd.I; the Director of UNISMA’s Postgraduate Program, Prof. M. Mas’ud Said, MM., Ph.D.; and the Director of IAIM NU Metro’s Postgraduate Program, Dr. H. Subandi, MM. The signing ceremony was witnessed by the First Vice Rector, Prof. Junaidi, M.Pd., Ph.D.
Group photo session following the MoU signing between UNISMA and IAIM Metro Lampung
The MoU signing event concluded with a prayer led by Dr. H. Muhibbin, MH. The prayer was conducted solemnly, with all leaders and participants looking upward to ask for blessings for this event.
The agenda continued with a seminar moderated by Dr. Moh. Afifullah, M.Pd. The panelists presenting the material were the Director of Postgraduate Program at Universitas Islam Malang, Prof. M. Mas’ud Said, MM, Ph.D., and the Rector of IAIM NU Metro Lampung, Dr. Mispani, M.Pd.I.
The moderator opened the discussion by noting that cases of radicalism often involve those who attended public schools and had no exposure to Islamic boarding schools. Students with a public school background struggle to conceptualize these issues and often get caught up in comparing Pancasila with religion/the Quran, although the two are fundamentally incomparable.
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Dr. Mispani, M.Pd.I., provided an introduction to the dangers of radicalism in Indonesia. Meanwhile, Prof. M. Masud Said, MM, Ph.D., further elaborated on the concepts of multiculturalism and pluralism. The subsequent discussion explained how the ideology of warfare contradicts the Islamic concept of “Rahmatan Lil Alamin” (a blessing for all creation).
Furthermore, this radicalism is like a supernatural entity haunting Indonesian society. Data from Alvara Research indicates that college students and schoolchildren are the largest contributors to radical ideologies.
