Qatar– On Thursday, January 11, 2024, the University of Darussalam Gontor formalized a collaborative partnership with Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) in Qatar. HBKU, a member of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (QF), was established in 2010 as a not-for-profit institution dedicated to education, research, innovation, and community development.

During the visit, the delegation from the University of Darussalam Gontor had the privilege of meeting esteemed figures such as Prof Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah (President of Hamad Bin Khalifa University), Dr. Recep Şentürk (Dean of the College of Islamic Studies), Prof Dr. Ibrahim Zain (Professor of Islamic Studies and Comparative Religion), and Dr. Mohamed Eskandar (Associate Professor of Islamic Finance).

The Gontor delegation, led by Prof. Dr. KH Amal Fatullah Zarkasyi, M.A. (President), Prof. Dr. Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi, M.A., M.Phil. (Rector), and Dr. Setiawan Bin Lahuri, M.A. (Vice Rector), engaged in a comprehensive meeting. Prof. Dr. Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi, The Rector of University of Darussalam Gontor, commenced the session with a presentation, affirming that UNIDA Gontor is a waqf-based university, echoing the ultimate goal set by the institution’s founders as outlined in the waqf charter of Gontor. The rector further elaborated on the evolution of Gontor as an educational institution, highlighting the establishment of school economic enterprises to uphold the spirit of school self-reliance, both ideologically and financially. He conveyed that the university has expanded, now encompassing various faculties, including Islamic Studies, Islamic Education, Islamic Theology, and Islamic Law. Additionally, the institution offers faculties in Health Sciences, Medicine, Humanities, International Relations, and Communication Sciences, along with programs in Pharmacy, Agriculture, Nutrition, and Information Technology. Notably, the university has fostered international collaborations with various institutions.

Expressing optimism, Prof. Amal Fathullah, The President of University of Darussalam Gontor, conveyed his delight at the potential collaboration between UNIDA Gontor and HBKU. He suggested that this collaboration could initiate with research cooperation and educational exchange, including the exchange of professors for the evaluation of dissertations, particularly in Islamic Studies.

In response, Prof. Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah, the President of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, expressed enthusiasm and openness to collaboration. The next phase of the research collaboration program will involve in-depth discussions on research themes between both institutions. Dr. Recep Şentürk, the Dean of the College of Islamic Studies, assured that the College is well-prepared for an exchange of professors, encompassing teaching, participation in international seminars, and serving as examiners for dissertations.

Going beyond areas of mutual agreement, the discussion delved into addressing challenges posed by postmodernists rejecting morality. Emphasizing the imperative of integrating morality into sustainability efforts, the discourse underscored morality as the foundational pillar for economics, education, politics, law, and various other aspects.