Islamic University of Indonesia

A. Overview

The Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII), or Islamic University of Indonesia, was established on Rajab 27^th 1364 or July 8^th 1945 (40 days before Indonesian Independence Day) under the name of Sekolah Tinggi Islam (STI) in Jakarta. STI was a response of Indonesian national figures that did not find it acceptable that the existing universities at that time belonged to the Dutch (Technische Hoogeschool which is now Institut Teknologi Bandung [Bandung Institute of Technology], Recht Hoogeschool in Jakarta, and Sekolah Tinggi Pertanian [College of Agriculture] in Bogor). STI came into being as evidence that there was an educational awareness among Indonesian people.

Initiated by such national figures as Dr. Moh. Hatta (the Proclaimer of Indonesian Independence and former Indonesian vice president), Moh. Natsir, Prof. K.H.A. Muzakkir, Moh. Roem, K.H. Wachid Hasyim, and some others, STI became a center for educational development that was nationalistic and Islamic at the same time.

As the capital of the republic was moved to Yogyakarta, STI was relocated to Ndalem Pangulon, Yogyakarta, and re-inaugurated by President Soekarno on Rajab 27^th 1365 H or April 10^th 1946. STI, which was the only Islamic higher educational institution in Indonesia, was changed into a university with the name University Islam Indonesia in order to play a bigger role in Indonesian struggle of independence. Then, in 1947, the name was changed to Universitas Islam Indonesia (Islamic University of Indonesia or Al Jamiah Islamiyah Al Indonesiyah).

The alteration from STI to UII was marked with the opening of introductory class (a kind of pre-university class) in March 1948 in Pendopo Ndalem Purbojo, Ngasem, Yogyakarta. As for the official opening of UII, it was held on Rajab 27^th 1367 or June 4^th 1948 in Ndalem Kepatihan Yogyakarta and attended by some ministers and government and military high officials.

Thus, the Islamic University of Indonesia was officially set up as the new face of STI which had been running since three years before. At the beginning, UII opened four faculties, namely Faculty of Economics Faculty of Law, Faculty of Pedagogy, and Faculty of Religion.

Since then, UII, the oldest private university in Indonesia, developed very quickly with more than 22 branch faculties in across Indonesia (Surakarta, Madiun, Purwokerto, Gorontalo, Bangil, Cirebon, and Klaten).

However, with the government issued a policy that there should be no branches of a university, the branches then developed into new universities (either state or private) or merged with other existing universities. So, undirectly, it was UII that pulled the trigger of the emergence and development of universities in many cities in Indonesia. UII, thus, has become a real part of the national history of education.

B. Features

Many Indonesian scholars from different disciplines are UII alumni. Among them are Prof. K.H. Abdul Kahar Muzakkir (the first UII Rector, 1945-1960), Prof. dr. Sardjito (UII Rector, 1963-1970), and Prof. R.H.A. Kasmat Bahuwinangun. Aside from those late persons, other UII graduated national figures who are still working these days (2009/2010) are Head of the Constitutional Court Mahfud M.D., Head of Judicial Commission Buysro Muqqodas, Head of the National Committee of Human Rights Ifdal Kasim, Head of LPSK (Witness and Victim Protection Agency) Abdul Haris Semendawai, Chief Director of Jakarta Futures Market Hasan Zein Mahmud, and Supreme Court Judge Dr. Artidjo Alkostas.

In 2009/2010 academic year, UII has 17.000 students from various departments. Nowadays, the university has 8 faculties, 5 diploma programs, 21 strata 1 (honors degree) programs, 3 professional programs, 6 strata 2 (post-graduate) programs, and 3 strata 3 (doctorate) programs. Most of the programs offered in UII are of A or B accreditation standard issued by the National Accreditation Body (BAN-PT).

In the 1990s, UII commenced the construction of the Integrated Campus on a land as wide as 36 Ha in Kaliurang Street Km. 15. Aside from this building, UII also has other campuses in Yogyakarta, i.e. for Faculty of Law in Tamansiswa Street and Faculty of Economics in Condong Catur, Yogyakarta.

UII has a good image in the mind of people, industry practitioners, and government. Since 2004, UII has been among universities that receive most funding gift from the government (more or less Rp 55 billion) for research and development. Beside, UII was one of 100 high-ranking universities in Indonesia according to Directorate General of Higher Education in 2008. In the same year, UII was among the big 20 according to webomatrics rating for the category of Indonesian university.

Cooperation with many universities from either domestic or abroad is maintained by UII in purpose of developing human resources and implementing the Quality Keeping System. Among the affiliated domestic universities are Sunan Kalijaga Islamic State University, Riau Islamic University, Lancang Kuning University, North Sumatra Islamic University, Balikpapan University, Raden Intan State Institute of Islam, and Indonesian Police Academy. As for cooperation with foreign universities, UII has been working together with Monash University Australia, Pai Chai University Korea, University of Karlsruhe Germany, Kebangsaan University Malaysia, International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM), and Tokyo Metropolitan University.

Moreover, UII has also been working on education and research together with governmental bodies, such as with Department of Education, Department of Communication and Transportation, Department of Justice and Human Rights, Department of Social Services, Department of Manpower and Transmigration, Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, Judicial Committee, Provincial Government of Yogyakarta, Municipal Government of Yogyakarta, Regional Governments of Kulon Progo, Gunungkidul, Sleman, Magelang, Cilacap, Indragiri Hilir, and many others.

UII also maintains cooperation with a group of industrial bodies in terms of scholarship, UII graduate recruitment, collective seminar, and supplies of laboratory equipments. Among the industrial bodies are Microsoft Corp., PT. Astra, Exxon Mobile Oil, PT. Djarum, Tifico, PT. Tempo Grup, LG Innotek, PT. Tirta Investama Indonesia, PT. Pancaran Harapan Nusa Edugate, Acer, Cisco, Networking Academy, Oracle, ACICIS, Indonesian Advocates Organization (DPP IKADIN), Indonesian Advocate Association, Association of Indonesian Textile Industries, and Association of Indonesian Internet Service Providers. The work with the bodies above is carried out at university level. Out of that, there are also cooperations in the level of faculty and department.

UII student selection system is carried out through several methods. Apart from official selection test, the university selects its students also by the method of Penulusuran Siswa Berprestasi (PSB), a course through which a student can be accepted in a university because of his/her achievement in academic or extracurricular activities. The PSB course consists of some categories. All departments in UII accept PSB students in accordance to the quota and selection criteria set by the related faculty. The category of high-achieving student is for those with high-academic ability or students who have won a science competition at provincial, national, or international level, such as Science Olympic, student research competition, and so on.

As for the category of high-achieving student in extracurricular activities, it is for those who have talents and achievements in sport or art at international, national, or regional/ provincial level. Another category is high-potential yet financially disable student.

Moreover, UII opens international class with English as the medium of instruction. Among those that have international classes are Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Law, and Faculty of Engineering.

C. Location

Islamic University of Indonesia has campuses in different places. The integrated campus, constituting Faculty of Psychology, Faculty of Medical Science, Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Planning, and Faculty of Islamic Studies, is situated at Kaliurang Street, Km. 15,5, Besi, Ngempak, Sleman, Yogyakarta. The other two campuses are for Faculty of Economics at Condong Catur, Depok, Sleman, Yogyakarta, and Faculty of Law at Taman Siswa Street No. 158, Yogyakarta. Aside from those campuses, there is the university administration office at Cik Di Tiro Street, Terban, Yogyakarta.

D. Access

It is very easy to reach the UII campuses because all public transports in Yogyakarta make them as one of their destinations. To get to the integrated campus in the north part of Yogyakarta, visitors can take a bus from Giwangan Bus Station to Kaliurang and stop right in front of it.

E. Ticket

There is no charge to get in to UII.

F. Accommodations and Other Facilities

To support students and staff activities, the Islamic University of Indonesia provides facilities as follows:

• In every UII campus, there are mosque, sport hall, student convention center, student boarding house, auditorium, research facilities, and library. Each campus is fitted out with excellent information technology and management. The hotspot area and free internet café for students are provided as well. This particular facility is used to develop the e-learning method.
• Islamic University of Indonesia Main Library with over 250 thousand collection of books. The library is situated in the UII integrated campus at Kaliurang Street, Sleman, Yogyakarta. Students can seek for a book in the library via internet, i.e. through Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC).
• Ulil Albab Mosque, the main building which is the heart of the UII integrated campus. As visitors enter the complex, this mosque is the first to welcome them.
• Kahar Muzakkir Auditorium, a part of a multifunctional building in the integrated campus. This auditorium is available for either students or public.
• Islamic University of Indonesia Boarding School, which is an innovation in the efforts of synchronizing religious life with academic life.
• Jogja International Hospital, which is the university’s real service for people in terms of medic.
• Polifarma Drugstore in the Integrated Campus. This facility gives medical facility for students and public. General doctors are usually available here in certain hours.
• General Lecture Building (Gedung Kuliah Umum), which is under construction at present, along with a building for the Center for UII Alumni Association.
• Sport Hall, the newest building in the UII Integrated Campus. This sport hall can accommodate 600 people. There is a basketball court and 3 badminton courts available for students and public.
• Center for Student Convention, which is now under construction.
• Rusunawa (student high-rise). This is a new facility whose construction was funded by the Ministry of People Housings, which was officially gifted to UII in the end of 2007. This high-rise can contain 300 students and for the time being is only for male students.
• Center for International Language and Cultural Studies (CILACS), which has a training format that encourages people to master languages and learn about cross-cultural understanding from the language. The learning process in CILACS-UII is not only held in formal class, but also in informal through, for instance, the Culture and Edu Corner (Japanese Corner, British Corner), Speaking Club, Movie Club, Debating Forum, On Air Radio, Wall Mag, Writing Club, Outing Activities, and many others. Beside, CILACS-UII always motivates its students to learn abroad by providing scholarship information for formal and informal education.
• Unisi Radio 104.75 FM, which is one of the first university radios in Yogyakarta.
• Cyberspace Internet Café, which is situated in the Basement of President’s Building in the Integrated Campus. Here, students can request for access to integrated hotspot facility (Hotspot Express).

Text: Adi Tri Pramono
Photo(s): Collection of Jogjatrip.com
Translation: Reza Daffi
(Primary data and various sources)

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