The Rector of the University of Darussalam Gontor, Prof Dr KH Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi, has arrived in the UK on 8 March 2023, accompanied by Mrs Emira Iffat (wife of Prof Dr KH Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi), Dr Khoirul Umam (Vice Rector for research and networking), and Dr KH Hadiyanto Arief (Headmaster of Darunnajah Boarding School). They were warmly welcomed by the Gontor Family Association, UK Branch, represented by Eko Nur Cahyo, Royyan Ramdhani Djayusman, and Muchammad Taufiq Affandi, all PhD students in the UK.

On 12 March 2023, Dr KH Anang Rikza Masyhadi (Headmaster of Tazakka Boarding School) and Mrs Eva Maria Ulfah (wife of Dr KH Anang Rikza Masyhadi) will land at Birmingham airport and join the delegation.

The purpose of the visit is to build networking with UK universities and institutions. The itinerary includes a range of activities, such as renewing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Muslim College London, meeting with the Indonesian Islamic Centre in London to discuss future collaboration, and a seminar at Birmingham University on the topic of the spirit of waqf for the economy of ummah.

The itinerary also includes giving Islamic talks to Indonesian Muslim communities in London, Newcastle, and Bristol, and meet with the Islamic Finance Department at Dundee University to discuss collaboration in various areas. In addition, the Rector and delegates will also have a benchmarking with the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OXCIS) and an initial collaboration meeting with the School of Computing and Digital Technology at Birmingham City University.

The delegation will also attend a special dinner hosted by the Indonesian Embassy for the UK, Ireland, and IMO, and meet with the Gontor Family Association, UK Branch. On 21 March, they will sign an MoU with Coventry University, and on 22 March, they will jointly conduct an international seminar with Durham University on waqf development.

The visit promises to enhance the relationship between the University of Darussalam Gontor and UK universities and institutions, and contribute to the development of higher Islamic education and research. The delegation will return to Indonesia on 23 March 2023, inshaAllah. [Eko Nur Cahyo, Royyan Ramdhani Djayusman, Muchammad Taufiq Affandi]