UNIDA Gontor — As part of the prestigious 100th Anniversary Celebration of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor (PMDG) and the University of Darussalam Gontor (UNIDA Gontor), the Turkish Ambassador, H.E. Prof. Dr. Talip Küçükçan, made an official visit from November 4 to 6, 2024.
On Monday, November 4, 2024, the welcoming team from PMDG and UNIDA Gontor set off from UNIDA Gontor at 6:30 AM to Adi Soemarmo Airport in Solo, where they received Ambassador Küçükçan at 11:30 AM. They then continued their journey, arriving at UNIDA Gontor at 2:15 PM. Upon arrival, the ambassador was warmly welcomed by students and faculty members, accompanied by a marching band performance as he proceeded to the UNIDA Gontor Integrated Building. There, he was greeted by the Rector of UNIDA Gontor, Prof. K.H. Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi, M.A.Ed., M.Phil., and other university officials, who escorted him to the Rectorate office.
That evening, a gala dinner was held in honor of the Turkish Ambassador in the CIOS Hall at UNIDA Gontor. Alongside Prof. Dr. Talip Küçükçan, the event was attended by UNIDA Gontor’s Rector, administrative staff, and the academic community. The evening was enlivened by traditional Indonesian performances from students.
“We celebrate 75 years of a meaningful friendship between Türkiye and Indonesia, a relationship that has long been established and continues to grow in various sectors, from diplomacy, economy, and culture to education. Over the decades, our two countries have supported one another, sharing a common vision of strengthening international cooperation and promoting peace within our regions and across the globe. This commemoration serves as a moment to reflect on the shared journey we have traveled together and to celebrate our joint commitment to building a better and more harmonious future,” said Prof. Dr. Talip Küçükçan during his address that evening.
On Tuesday morning, November 5, 2024, UNIDA Gontor held a podcast featuring Prof. Dr. Talip Küçükçan and Ahmad Saifulloh, Ph.D., in the UNIDA Inn Private Room with the theme, “Empowering Youth Generation Through Islamic University.” Following the podcast, a gathering was held with the Rectorate to discuss collaborative efforts and to inaugurate the Center for Turkish Studies. The event concluded with a group photo session to commemorate the ambassador’s visit.
On the final day of his visit, in conjunction with Gontor’s 100th-anniversary celebrations, UNIDA Gontor hosted an international seminar titled “How to Respond to Modern Challenges: A Perspective from Türkiye” in the 4th-floor Hall of the UNIDA Gontor Integrated Building.
In his opening remarks, Prof. K.H. Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi, M.A.Ed., M.Phil., presented the history and unique educational system of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor. He highlighted UNIDA Gontor’s ongoing collaborations with nearly 14 institutions in Türkiye, including Istanbul University and Luqmanul Hakim University. He expressed his hope that students will have opportunities to study in Türkiye on scholarship and mentioned the possibility of President Erdogan attending the 100th-anniversary celebrations.
The seminar was moderated by Asst. Prof. Ali Musa Harahap, M.H.S., Ph.D., who provided a brief introduction to the life and career of Prof. Dr. Talip Küçükçan. During the session, Prof. Küçükçan, an esteemed figure in the field of education, emphasized that one of the issues facing the Muslim world today is the separation of science and religion. He remarked that Indonesian youth, with their high regard for Islam, play a crucial role in the advancement of the Muslim world.
“In the past, religion and knowledge were united as one,” he noted. “But today, they are often separated. As Muslims, we must reintegrate them according to the teachings of Islam.” He further emphasized the importance of reading, as commanded in the first verse of the Qur’an, and recalled how Europeans advanced by translating and studying the works of early Muslim scholars.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Dr. Talip Küçükçan expressed his gratitude and encouraged UNIDA Gontor students to become future leaders and to work together in advancing Islamic civilization.
Editorial by Rafif
