Kementerian Agama

Overview

Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia (Kemenag), or the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, is a government institution responsible for managing religious affairs in Indonesia. Established in 1946, Kemenag oversees various aspects of religious life, including education, worship, and interfaith relations. The ministry plays a crucial role in fostering religious harmony and ensuring that religious practices align with national laws and policies.

Historical and Legal Framework

The establishment of Kemenag was proposed by Mr. Muhammad Yamin during the Badan Penyelidik Usaha-Usaha Persiapan Kemerdekaan Indonesia (BPUPKI) session on July 11, 1945. The proposal aimed to create a dedicated ministry to handle religious affairs in the newly independent nation. Following Indonesia's independence, Kemenag was officially formed in 1946 to fulfill this role. The ministry operates under the legal framework provided by various laws and regulations, including the 1945 Constitution of Indonesia and subsequent legislation related to religious affairs.

Mission, Vision, and Objectives — Role in Higher Education

Mission: Kemenag is committed to organizing religious affairs in Indonesia to uphold the nation's religious values and promote harmony among different faiths.

Vision: To establish a society that is religiously harmonious, tolerant, and adheres to the teachings of Islam and other religions in accordance with the nation's laws.

Objectives in Higher Education:

• Regulate and supervise Islamic higher education institutions (PTKI), including universities and pesantren.
• Develop policies to enhance the quality of religious education.
• Promote research and development in religious studies.
• Encourage interfaith dialogue and cooperation among religious institutions.

Governance, Structure, and Independence

Kemenag is led by a Minister of Religious Affairs, who is appointed by the President of Indonesia. The ministry's structure includes various directorates general, agencies, and offices responsible for specific areas such as Islamic education, religious affairs, and interfaith relations. While Kemenag operates under the executive branch of the government, it maintains a degree of independence in managing religious affairs, ensuring that policies align with both religious principles and national interests.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation Role in Higher Education

Kemenag plays a significant role in accrediting and evaluating the quality of Islamic higher education institutions. The ministry collaborates with the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN-PT) to assess the performance and standards of PTKI. This partnership aims to ensure that these institutions provide quality education that meets national and international standards. Kemenag's involvement in accreditation and quality evaluation contributes to the continuous improvement of religious higher education in Indonesia.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

Kemenag actively engages in international cooperation to promote religious harmony and share best practices in religious affairs. The ministry collaborates with various international organizations and counterparts, including the Turkish Religious Attaché, to discuss opportunities for cooperation in areas such as sending Qaris and promoting moderation communities. Additionally, Kemenag has reactivated the Indonesian Interfaith Scholarship (IIS) program in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aiming to foster interfaith dialogue and understanding among religious communities.

Current or Future Impact on Higher Education

In recent years, Kemenag has focused on enhancing the quality of Islamic higher education institutions. For instance, two universities, UIN Raden Intan Lampung and UIN Sumatera Utara, achieved top rankings among PTKI in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025. This achievement reflects the ministry's commitment to improving the global standing of religious higher education institutions in Indonesia. Moving forward, Kemenag aims to continue this trajectory by implementing policies that promote academic excellence, research innovation, and international collaboration.

Summary

Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia (Kemenag) is a pivotal institution in managing religious affairs in Indonesia. Established in 1946, the ministry oversees various aspects of religious life, including education, worship, and interfaith relations. Through its commitment to quality education, international cooperation, and fostering religious harmony, Kemenag plays a crucial role in shaping Indonesia's religious landscape and ensuring that religious practices align with national laws and policies.

FAQs

• What is the role of Kemenag in higher education?

  Kemenag regulates and supervises Islamic higher education institutions, develops policies to enhance the quality of religious education, and promotes research and development in religious studies.

• When was Kemenag established?

  Kemenag was officially established in 1946, following a proposal by Mr. Muhammad Yamin during the BPUPKI session on July 11, 1945.

• How does Kemenag ensure the quality of religious education?

  The ministry collaborates with the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN-PT) to assess and improve the standards of Islamic higher education institutions.

• Does Kemenag engage in international cooperation?

  Yes, Kemenag actively collaborates with international organizations and counterparts to promote religious harmony and share best practices in religious affairs.

• What is the Indonesian Interfaith Scholarship (IIS)?

  The IIS is a program initiated by Kemenag in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to foster interfaith dialogue and understanding among religious communities. The program was reactivated in 2025 after a hiatus since 2019.

Organization Name

Kementerian Agama
Ministry of Religious Affairs

Acronym

Year of Establishment

1/01/1946

Control Type

Public

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

National

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

Jalan Lapangan Banteng Barat No. 3 - 4
Jakarta
10710 DKI Jakarta Indonesia

Phone

+62 (21) 381 2344

Fax

+62 (21) 3483 3981

List of universities in Indonesia supervised by Kementerian Agama, the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs:

Sumatera Region

Kode 101: UIN Sumatera Utara Medan

Kode 102: UIN Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau

Kode 103: UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh

Kode 104: UIN Imam Bonjol Padang

Kode 105: UIN Sultanah Nahrasiyah Lhokseumawe

Kode 106: IAIN Langsa

Kode 107: UIN Syahada Padangsidimpuan

Kode 108: UIN Mahmud Yunus Batusangkar

Kode 109: UIN Syech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi

Kode 153: IAIN Takengon

Kode 154: IAIN Datuk Laksemana Bengkalis

Kode 155: STAIN Teungku Dirundeng Meulaboh

Kode 157: STAIN Sultan Abdurrahman Kepulauan Riau

Kode 158: STAIN Mandailing Natal

Kode 210: UIN Raden Fatah Palembang

Kode 211: UIN Raden Intan Lampung

Kode 212: UIN Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi

Kode 213: IAIN Kerinci Jambi

Kode 214: IAIN Curup

Kode 215: UIN Fatmawati Sukarno Bengkulu

Kode 216: UIN Jurai Siwo Lampung

Kode 217: IAIN Syaikh Abdurrahman Siddik Bangka Belitung

Java Region

Kode 318: UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta

Kode 319: UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

Kode 320: UIN Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin Banten

Kode 321: UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon

Kode 423: UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta

Kode 424: UIN Walisongo Semarang

Kode 425: UIN KH Abdurrahman Wahid Pekalongan

Kode 426: UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta

Kode 427: UIN Profesor K.H. Saifuddin Zuhri Purwokerto

Kode 428: UIN Salatiga

Kode 429: UIN Sunan Kudus

Kode 530: UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya

Kode 531: UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang

Kode 534: UIN KH.Achmad Siddiq (KHAS) Jember

Kode 535: UIN Madura

Kode 536: UIN Syekh Wasil Kediri

Kode 537: UIN Sayyid Ali Rahmatullah Tulungagung

Kode 538: UIN Kiai Ageng Muhammad Besari Ponorogo

Kalimantan & Sulawesi Region

Kode 322: IAIN Pontianak

Kode 539: UIN Sultan Aji Muhammad Idris Samarinda

Kode 540: UIN Palangkaraya

Kode 641: UIN Alauddin Makassar

Kode 642: IAIN Sultan Amai Gorontalo

Kode 644: IAIN Manado

Kode 645: UIN Datokarama Palu

Kode 646: IAIN Parepare

Kode 647: IAIN Bone

Kode 648: UIN Palopo

Kode 649: IAIN Kendari

Kode 656: STAIN Majene

Eastern Indonesia (Maluku & Papua)

Kode 643: UIN Abdul Muthalib Sangadji Ambon

Kode 650: IAIN Ternate

Kode 651: IAIN Fattahul Muluk Papua

Kode 652: IAIN Sorong

Official Social Media Channels

Facebook

Kementerian Agama's Facebook page

X (Twitter)

Kementerian Agama's X page

LinkedIn

Not available

YouTube

Kementerian Agama's YouTube channel

Instagram

Kementerian Agama's Instagram page

Wikipedia Article

Kementerian Agama's Wikipedia article

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