UKSW Launches Center to Advance Christian-Muslim Dialogue and Interfaith Harmony

SALATIGA, Indonesia — Satya Wacana Christian University (UKSW) on Thursday (April 16, 2026) inaugurated a new research hub aimed at strengthening interfaith dialogue and addressing religious tensions in one of the world’s most diverse nations.

The center, named the Center of Excellence for the Study of Religion and Christian-Muslim Relations (CSR-CMR), is designed to serve as an academic platform for research, training and public engagement focused on fostering understanding between religious communities, particularly Christians and Muslims.

The launch took place as part of an international seminar marking the center’s inauguration, alongside the signing of an implementation agreement with the Religious Harmony Center (PKUB) of Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs. The ceremony underscored a growing collaboration between academic institutions and the government in promoting religious coexistence.

The initiative comes at a time when Indonesia, despite its long-standing reputation for pluralism, continues to face challenges related to religious intolerance and social friction.

“Indonesia is rich in religious diversity, but that does not mean relations are always harmonious,” said Sumanto Al Qurtuby, the center’s director. “This center aims to reduce tensions and promote a more respectful and inclusive coexistence.”

As a Christian university, UKSW, he added, sees itself as having a moral responsibility to serve as a bridge across faiths, grounded in values of compassion, justice and openness.

University leaders framed the initiative as part of a broader institutional shift. “This marks a new chapter,” said Yafet Yosafet Wilben Rissy, UKSW’s vice rector for partnerships and alumni affairs. “We are not only committed to peace and justice in Indonesia, but also to contributing to more equitable and harmonious global relations between Christians and Muslims.”

Government officials welcomed the effort. Muhammad Adib Abdushomad, head of PKUB, emphasized that collaboration across sectors is essential in maintaining social cohesion. “Dialogue and relationship-building remain the foundation,” he said, noting that partnerships between universities, government bodies and civil society are increasingly critical.

The launch also introduced INSPIRE 2026 (International Symposium on Peace, Integrity, and Responsiveness to Ecotheology), scheduled to take place in Jakarta from September 8 to 10. Organized as PKUB’s first international-scale program, the symposium will include academic paper submissions, campus roadshows and cultural programming, including film screenings on religious harmony in multiple languages.

Beyond academic study, CSR-CMR is envisioned as a “living laboratory” for interfaith engagement. The center has already established partnerships with Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Georgetown University’s Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, and the Oxford Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies.

These collaborations align with broader global development priorities, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on quality education, peace and justice, and international partnerships.

Willi Toisuta, a former rector of UKSW and chair of the center’s advisory board, said the initiative must remain responsive to contemporary challenges, including the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and shifting global dynamics.

Scholars from across Indonesia have also expressed support. Fatimah Husein of Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University and Samsul Ma’arif of the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies emphasized the need for religious scholarship that is both transformative and grounded in social justice.

Often described as a “miniature Indonesia” due to its diverse student body, UKSW occupies a unique position in advancing interfaith understanding. With the establishment of CSR-CMR, the university is seeking to deepen its role not only as an academic institution, but also as a contributor to national cohesion and global peace efforts. []