Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia

The Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia (Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia), founded in 1946, is a key government body responsible for managing and regulating religious affairs in Indonesia. As a nation with one of the largest Muslim populations in the world and rich religious diversity, the ministry plays a significant role in shaping policies related to religious life, education and interfaith harmony across the country.

Role in Higher Education

A central function of the Kementerian Agama is its oversight of Islamic higher education institutions, including universities, colleges and pesantren (Islamic boarding schools). The ministry supervises the academic and administrative operations of these institutions to ensure they meet national education standards and offer comprehensive programs in Islamic studies, theology, sharia law and related fields. Through its Directorate General of Islamic Education (Direktorat Jenderal Pendidikan Islam), the ministry is responsible for curriculum development, faculty qualification standards, research promotion and institutional accreditation.

Directorate General of Islamic Education

Through its Directorate General of Islamic Education (Direktorat Jenderal Pendidikan Islam or Ditjen Pendis), the Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia plays a central role in regulating and developing Islamic education at all levels, particularly higher education. Ditjen Pendis is an implementing element directly under and responsible to the Minister of Religious Affairs. The Directorate General is responsible for formulating and executing policies, developing technical standards, overseeing institutional accreditation, promoting academic research and ensuring the quality and relevance of Islamic education across Indonesia. This regulatory framework ensures that students receive a comprehensive and balanced education that integrates religious teachings with modern academic disciplines.

Organizational structure

The structure of the Directorate General of Islamic Education has continued to evolve in response to new presidential and ministerial regulations. According to the most recent Regulation of the Minister of Religious Affairs Number 41 of 2016, the Directorate General is composed of six Echelon II units: - Secretariat of the Directorate General of Islamic Education - Directorate of Madrasah Curriculum, Facilities, Institutions and Student Affairs - Directorate of Madrasah Teachers and Education Personnel - Directorate of Islamic Higher Education - Directorate of Islamic Religious Education - Directorate of Early Childhood Education and Islamic Boarding Schools

Duties and Functions

The Directorate General of Islamic Education carries out a wide range of duties to ensure the effective implementation of Islamic education in the country. These include: - Formulating national policies in the field of Islamic education - Implementing technical regulations and operational guidelines - Developing and updating norms, standards, procedures and criteria for Islamic education - Providing technical guidance, capacity building and institutional evaluation - Managing the administrative functions of the Directorate General itself These responsibilities cover institutions at all levels—from early childhood education and madrasas to Islamic universities and boarding schools (pesantren). The Directorate General also works to integrate religious values with modern educational methodologies, making Islamic education in Indonesia relevant and competitive both nationally and globally.

Contribution to Higher Education

Through the Directorate of Islamic Higher Education, Ditjen Pendis directly manages a significant number of higher education institutions, including State Islamic Universities (UIN), State Islamic Institutes (IAIN) and State Islamic Colleges (STAIN). These institutions offer academic programs in Islamic theology, law, education, economics and other fields, contributing to the formation of knowledgeable and socially responsible graduates. In addition to academic regulation, the Directorate General supports institutional accreditation, lecturer development, curriculum modernization and the promotion of research and community service. This ensures that Islamic higher education institutions operate with academic integrity and remain aligned with national education goals and global standards.

Accreditation and Quality Assurance

The Kementerian Agama plays a strategic role in accreditation and quality assurance of Islamic universities and colleges. It collaborates with national accreditation bodies and internal quality assurance units to maintain high academic standards and institutional credibility. The ministry also provides funding, professional development programs and scholarships aimed at improving institutional capacity and student access to quality education.

Promotion of Interfaith Understanding

Beyond its academic responsibilities, the Kementerian Agama is actively engaged in promoting religious tolerance, interfaith dialogue and social harmony in Indonesia. By supporting initiatives that foster mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among different religious groups, the ministry contributes to national stability and cultural unity. Its programs are designed to educate students and the wider community on the importance of pluralism, ethical leadership and inclusive national identity.

Impact on Indonesia’s Higher Education Landscape

The Kementerian Agama has a significant impact on Indonesia's higher education sector by strengthening the Islamic education system and ensuring it aligns with the broader goals of national development. It supports more than 1,000 higher education institutions across Indonesia, including State Islamic Universities (UIN), State Islamic Institutes (IAIN) and State Islamic Colleges (STAIN). By maintaining educational standards, facilitating accreditation and encouraging inter-religious cooperation, the ministry enhances both the academic and spiritual formation of students in Islamic institutions. According to uniRank, the Kementerian Agama is a pivotal institution in Indonesia’s higher education ecosystem, contributing to the nation’s academic excellence and cultural cohesion.

Conclusion

The Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia, through its Directorate of Islamic Higher Education, stands as a cornerstone of religious and educational governance in the country. Its dual mission of overseeing Islamic higher education and fostering interfaith harmony positions it as a vital player in Indonesia’s socio-educational development. The ministry’s ongoing commitment to quality assurance, curriculum development and inclusive education ensures that Indonesia’s Islamic institutions remain competitive, relevant and aligned with the values of tolerance and academic integrity.

Organization Name

Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia
Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia

Acronym

Year of Establishment

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

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

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Wikipedia Article

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