Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Religious Affairs will hold its Annual International Conference on Islamic Science and Society (AICIS+) in 2026, with an emphasis on empirical research that contributes to various national development.
“It is time for AICIS+ to shift from predominantly theoretical studies to research that is more empirical, applicable, and capable of delivering tangible benefits to society and national development,” the ministry’s Director General of Islamic Education, Amien Suyitno, said in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Suyitno said AICIS+ 2026 will be hosted by Syekh Nurjati State Islamic Cyber University in Cirebon and guided by two key principles: ensuring continuity with previous editions of AICIS+ through sustainability, and aligning all conference agendas and themes with the government’s priority programs.
He also emphasized the importance of strengthening studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by integrating them with various Islamic studies.
Such an approach is expected to strengthen the link between research conducted at State Islamic Higher Education Institutions (PTKI) and madrasahs and the country’s national development priorities.
In addition to STEM, AICIS+ 2026 will focus on several strategic issues, including healthcare, research downstreaming, digital transformation, and several topics carried over from AICIS+ 2025 that have yet to be fully addressed.
Suyitno also underscored the importance of measuring AICIS+’s tangible contribution to national development.
Accordingly, the international conference is expected to produce not only academic publications but also policy recommendations and innovations that can be widely implemented.
“As part of efforts to strengthen collaboration, the Ministry of Religious Affairs is also encouraging the participation of public universities (PTU) in AICIS+ 2026. Such collaboration can be realized through special themes relevant to academic development at PTKI, thereby fostering stronger cross-disciplinary dialogue,” he said.
He expressed hope that the event would further strengthen its position as an international academic forum that bridges Islamic perspectives with advances in science, technology, and Indonesia’s development priorities, while producing recommendations that deliver tangible benefits to society.
AICIS+ 2026 will be held in October 2026 and is expected to attract thousands of participants from universities, research institutions, international organizations, and Islamic educational institutions from around the world.
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Translator: Bayu Prasetyo
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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