File Photo: The outer gate of Al-Azhar university. Al-Ahram.
The initiative was officially launched on 6 November by Indonesia’s Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu'ti, who signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Al-Azhar University President, Professor Salama Dawood.
Housed within the Faculty of Languages and Translation, the new department is the result of close cooperation between Indonesia’s Ministry of Education, the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, and Al-Azhar University. It aims to strengthen academic exchange and deepen cultural understanding between the two countries, which share a long history of scholarly and religious ties.
Minister Abdul Mu'ti expressed his gratitude to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and the university’s leadership for their continued support of Indonesian students, praising their role in promoting moderation and tolerance.
He described the opening of the Indonesian Language Department as a “historic event” reflecting international recognition of Indonesian as a global language.
“Language is not merely a means of communication,” he said, “but a bridge connecting peoples. Indonesian is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.”
For his part, Professor Dawood voiced pride in Al-Azhar’s deep relationship with Indonesia, noting that Indonesian students hold a special place at the university for their “excellent manners and morals.”
He said the establishment of the department brings the total number of languages taught at Al-Azhar to 15, adding that its success will depend on continued support from the Indonesian government, including the provision of qualified instructors.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior university officials, including the Vice President and the Dean of the Faculty, as well as members of the academic staff.
Around 350 students have already enrolled in the new program. Indonesia’s Ambassador to Egypt, Lutfi Rauf, was also present.
During his two-day visit to Egypt on 6 and 7 November, Abdul Mu'ti met with Egypt’s Minister of Education and Technical Education, Mohamed Abdel-Latif, to discuss ways of enhancing cooperation in basic and technical education.
The talks covered teacher and student exchanges, curriculum development, and the integration of technologies such as artificial intelligence and programming into secondary education.
Both ministers agreed that the partnership would serve as a platform for sharing expertise and improving educational quality in both countries. They also emphasized the importance of moral education and instilling human values to help shape a generation rooted in ethics and creativity.
On the sidelines of his visit, Abdul Mu'ti met members of the Indonesian community in Egypt at Ambassador Rauf's residence.
The gathering included representatives of the Indonesian Students Union, regional student associations, medical students, teachers from the Indonesian School in Cairo, and members of Islamic organizations such as Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama.
The minister also toured the Indonesian School in Cairo, located within the Indonesian Cultural Centre, where he stressed the importance of maintaining high academic standards abroad while preserving Indonesian identity and values.
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