The Inter-Religious Studies Doctoral Program, a collaborative effort by Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), dan Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Sunan Kalijaga, has been ranked 61st worldwide in the fields of Theology, Divinity, and Religious Studies. This prestigious ranking comes from the 2024 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (QS WUR) by Subject.
Dr. Zainal Abidin Bagir, Director of the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS), noted that the program represents a relatively new academic field in Indonesia. The study program was developed collaboratively, with each university recognizing the need for mutual resource sharing to establish a genuinely interfaith initiative.
Institutionalized in 2006, the ICRS consortium began accepting students in 2007. It currently boasts 60 alumni from various countries, including the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Korea, Colombia, the United States, Bulgaria, and Egypt.
“Without the collaboration of these three universities, reaching our current achievements would have been impossible. We will continue to maintain and strengthen this collaborative spirit,” said Dr. Zainal Abidin Bagir. He emphasized the importance of expanding such collaborations with other universities, both domestically and internationally.
The Doctoral Program employs a cross-disciplinary approach, integrating social sciences, humanities, theology, and hermeneutics. It encompasses studies of Christian and Islamic religions, along with other faiths, including ancestral religions, examining various dimensions of their teachings and practices. Key areas of focus include the history of religions, contemporary religious issues, and interreligious hermeneutics.
Beyond regular classes, ICRS offers special sessions to enhance students’ abilities to publish articles in national and international scientific journals. The program is also dedicated to fostering interfaith dialogue and promoting messages of peace.
In a recent development, starting in 2024, ICRS and the UGM Graduate School will host the international journal Studies in Interreligious Dialogue, which has been in publication for 34 years. [humasukdw/Eng.glo.ed.drr]