Indonesian Scholars Recognized for Completing Program

On Wednesday, Nov. 19, HIU held a certificate ceremony for 10 Indonesian scholars from the Istiqlal Mosque Ulama Cadre Education (PKUMI) program who joined us approximately three months prior. 

The program, run by the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, provides Indonesian graduate students in the writing stages of their MA or P.hD. programs with the opportunity to immerse themselves in an American, interreligious, and intercultural academic environment. All participants are enrolled in the PTIQ University’s Department of Tafsir (Quranic Commentary). 

During the ceremony, Shafira Assalwa, PKUMI cohort coordinator, reflected on the group's transformative experience, stating, “Here at HIU, we have learned so many things: insightful academic knowledge, engaging discussions, and warm guidance from professors, staff, and international students.” 

She emphasized that “the kindness, warmth, and support of the entire HIU community have greatly helped us improve our English skills, broaden our perspectives, and strengthen our confidence.”

Beyond the classroom, the cohort's travels provided lasting memories. Assalwa recalled, “We will also bring home unforgettable memories of autumn in Connecticut, the stunning colors of the leaves, the calming atmosphere, and the special moments during our visit to the Beinecke Library at Yale University, another campus in Boston, and when we saw our first snowfall on our way back from the Niagara Falls trip.”

She highlighted the cultural exchange, noting, “We learned firsthand about the richness of religious and cultural diversity here. For the first time, we visited a chapel, a synagogue, attended a Shabbat dinner, and had meaningful conversations with friends from different faith backgrounds. These experiences taught us openness and respect for differences.”

Each year’s certificate ceremony for PKUMI scholars is different. Last year, the cohort played songs on the angklung, a bamboo instrument that produces a single note per piece. This year’s cohort presented hadroh, a distinctive form of music in Islam featuring melodic recitation of Arabic texts.

This study abroad experience is made possible by HIU’s The Macdonald Center in partnership with the Civilizations Exchange and Cooperation Foundation (CECF) in Columbia, Maryland, and the Istiqlal Mosque Ulama Cadre Education program in Jakarta, Indonesia.