It has been an amazing experience attending the 19th Annual International Conference on Islamic Studies in Jakarta this October where I encountered many sharp and scholarly international colleagues, experienced veterans of religious studies and academician. Personally, I think this conference was very well prepared and very effective. I completely enjoyed the four days event with so many thought-provoking discussions and seminars on various digital Islam, education and youth topics. A quite few parallel sessions, delivered by several AICIS scholar which I joined had been very intuitive and informative on their specific themes. Thus, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect upon my inspiring experiences in Jakarta and recap in the ways AICIS conference helps me to embrace international outlook on how to value from exchange of ideas, sharing of findings of study, socializing with international counterparts and thinking about its relevance to my career as academician.
On the first day of the conference, 1st October, when there was the on-stage discussion on Islamic Higher Education (IHE)’s Response to the Era of Disruption, I appreciated the presentations of Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan who happened to be my Professor also in Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, who talked about the advancement of information and communication, especially the Internet and social media as a critical factors in the dynamics of Muslim politics. In addition, I am grateful that I met Ms. Ajeng Prakasita of Airlangga University, Surabaya who also happened to be my roommate and accompany me all throughout the conference. On 2nd of October, day two of the conference, I joined many of the young scholars and entered different parallel sessions, which was really exciting and dynamic interaction between panel of guest speakers and audience uncover some key issues which concerns the emerging of religion defined in the online environment. The presentation of Mr. Lucky Amalia from Indonesian Institute of Science about Islamic populism was very impressive focusing on to the hegemonic relationship between dominant social groups and Islamic groups in post-authoritarian Indonesia. The presentation expressed my interest taking up position since in my dissertation I focus on to the populism researches.
Inspired by what I learned from all the sessions; I am very grateful and very thankful with my Professor in UMY Dr. Hasse Juba for inviting me as the selected speaker for AICIS conference. On the 3rd day of October I presented my paper in theme of Islam in Digital Era: The Use of Modern Media of Information for Religious Purpose. In addition, with other selected speaker Dr. Mustaqim Pabbajah of University of Technology Yogyakarta and Dr. Yance Rumahuru of Institut Agama Kristen Negeri of Ambon Maluku in the same panel I was delightful to get to know them. Thus, during our panel session there is no doubt about the challenges of the religion, faith, and sacredness confronted in the emergence of the digital world. Aside from my presentation some speakers in my panel shared with the audience intrigues me and I want to learn more of their experience. I hope my interactions with my colleagues in AICIS will shed some light on many baffling problems faced by Internet and Religion concept.
In conclusion, I would like to express my heart-felt thanks to people who have made AICIS conference possible and those who have shared their papers and experiences during the four exciting days in Jakarta. I have benefited very much from this bizarre event.
