
After Surviving the Pandemic, Rector Rebuilds Collaboration with Marmara Üniversitesi Turkey
ISTANBUL – Thursday (12/9/2024), Rector of Antasari State Islamic University Prof. Dr. H. Mujiburrahman, M.A. visited Marmara Üniversitesi, in order to pave the way for collaboration. At 10 a.m. local time, the Rector was welcomed by Marmara Üniversitesi Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Korkut and his staff, such as Prof. Dr. Saim Kayadibi from the Institute of Islamic Economics and Finance, and Prof. Dr. Nuri Tinaz Hoca (Director of International Affairs).
The Rector explained that in 2018 there were four lecturers of Antasari State Islamic University who had participated in leadership and management training at Marmara Üniversitesi. However, the collaboration did not continue, partly because in 2020 Covid-19 attacked the world. The Rector hopes that academic collaboration in the future can be re-established, either on a simple scale such as online activities, or more costly ones such as face-to-face activities.
Prof. Hasan welcomed the proposal of the Rector of Antasari State Islamic University. He said that the university is the second largest in Turkey, with around 80 thousand students. Prof. Hasan explained that Marmara Üniversitesi is a state-funded university whose history can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire. The campus is located in several places. However, in the future it is planned to be merged into one area again. Tomorrow, Friday (13/9), President Erdogan will inaugurate the construction of buildings in the new area.
In an intimate meeting filled with laughter, the Rector and the Marmara Üniversitesi academics discussed the importance of strengthening Turkey’s relationship with Indonesia, not only because they are both Muslim-majority countries, but also because they have long had good relations, such as the relationship between the Ottoman Empire and the Sultanate of Aceh.
“We still have Raja Stamboel matches today,” said Prof. Mujiburrahman.
The Rector hopes that Marmara Üniversitesi will also open cooperation with UIN Antasari on the island of Kalimantan, which is now the location of Indonesia’s new national capital.

After meeting with the Vice Rector of Marmara Üniversitesi and his staff, the rector was escorted to meet the Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies Prof. Dr. Ismail Safa Ustun. The conversation was warm about the development of Islamic studies in Turkey and the possibility of collaboration with Antasari State Islamic University.
Prof. Ismail said that the Faculty of Islamic Studies has, since the Ottoman Empire, provided experts in the field of Islam who serve as Islamic teachers in schools, imams in mosques, and muftis. Islamic studies in Turkey is also open, and many of its lecturers have studied in Europe. The current Turkish Ambassador to Indonesia Prof. Dr. Talip Kucukcan is a former lecturer at the Faculty of Islamic Studies.
The Rector of Antasari State Islamic University hopes that academic collaborations with the Faculty of Islamic Studies of Marmara Üniversitesi can begin with seminars or online discussions. Furthermore, there will be visits and face-to-face meetings. On the other hand, the Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies suggested that universities in Indonesia could participate in the Erasmus international scholarship program. This scholarship scheme is expected to help various desired academic activities.
(Rector’s travel notes)
