Universitas Syiah Kuala Welcomes JAHEIS Delegation from Malaysian Higher Education Institutions

Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) had the honor of welcoming a delegation from the Islamic Affairs Committee (JAHEIS), comprising representatives from ten leading higher education institutions in Malaysia, on Monday, 23 June 2025. The visit, held at USK’s Balai Senat, was officially welcomed by Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ir. Agussabti, M.Sc., and Vice-Rector for Planning, Partnership, and Business Affairs, Prof. Dr. Taufiq, S.Si., M.Tech.

In his welcoming speech, Prof. Agussabti expressed his appreciation for the delegation’s visit and emphasized the close Islamic cultural ties between Aceh and Malaysia, which naturally support strong and strategic collaboration.

“Aceh and Malaysia share deep-rooted Islamic values. Therefore, we must continue to stand united. I hope that the collaboration between universities in Aceh and Malaysia will bring real benefits to our communities and enhance mutual prosperity. May this partnership among fellow Muslims serve as a light for the Islamic ummah across the globe,” he said.

Prof. Taufiq also conveyed his aspirations that this partnership would help shape a new generation of young Muslims who not only understand religious teachings but also excel academically and scientifically.

“Through this forum, let us cultivate young Muslims who not only embrace Islamic teachings through their rituals but also emerge as scholars contributing to various fields of knowledge,” he added.

During the meeting, USK introduced two of its flagship Islamic programs: the Islamic Education Development Program Unit (UP3AI) and Rumah Amal USK, both of which play a key role in promoting Islamic values and ethics within the academic community.

Representing the Malaysian delegation, Zuhaimi bin Abdul Rahim expressed his optimism that this initiative would lead to tangible collaborations between Malaysian institutions and USK.

“We look forward to seeing more collaborative activities between Malaysian institutions and USK. Islamic studies align strongly with the mission of our institutions in Malaysia. Therefore, Aceh is a very suitable place to carry out Islamic educational and religious programs,” he stated.

The delegation included representatives from Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin (PTSS), Universiti Utara Malaysia, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Tun Abdul Razak, and Universiti Putra Malaysia.