Jakarta - Rector of International Islamic University of Indonesia (UIII) Komarudin Hidayat visited the office of the National Islamic Finance Committee (KNKS) on Friday, June 21, 2019, to discuss the establishment of a Faculty of Halal Product Development.

Executive Director Ventje Rahardjo, along with Director of Inclusive Finance, Islamic Social Finance and Islamic Microfinance Ahmad Juwaini and Director of Legal, Promotion and External Relations Taufik Hidayat are among the officials welcoming the visit.

The planned faculty is set to promote the development of human resources, research & development capacity, and development of Islamic economy in Indonesia.

According to Komarudin, to reach the stated goal, the curriculum for Indonesia Islamic economy should meet international standards. Furthermore, laboratory and Islamic economic research should bring significant impact, both nationally and internationally.

“Our first step is to set out a proposal for the faculty, curriculum and laboratory. The curriculum will focus on political science, innovation and Islamic studies,” Komarudin said.

Ventje revealed that KNKS has consulted with professor Irwandi Jaswir, winner of King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam in 2018 in the strategy to develop halal industry.

Moreover, KNKS also signed MoUs with seven universities to develop curriculum for Sharia Economic Studies, as well as developing Islamic economy R&D program, called Indonesian Network for Islamic Economic Studies (INIES).

“KNKS cooperates with all stakeholders, ministries, mass organizations, banks and businesses in mapping sharia economy, to go in the same direction,” Ventje said.

As a follow-up to the meeting, KNKS drafted and proposed an international curriculum for postgraduate and doctorate studies in Islamic Economics, Business and Finance as well as Halal Sciences. A preliminary assessment for a Research and Development center for Islamic Economy and Finance at the UIII campus is also considered.

Reporter: Ishmah Qurratu’ain