East Java Governor and Al Azhar University Rector Discuss Expanded Cooperation in Education

Surabaya, The Gulf Observer: East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa and Rector of Al Azhar University, Prof. Dr. Salama Gomaa Daud, held a significant meeting in Surabaya to explore avenues for deeper cooperation between East Java and the prestigious Egyptian institution. The meeting, held on Sunday, centered on potential partnerships in education, with a particular focus on scholarship opportunities and training programs for East Java students.

“There were many things that we discussed with Mrs. Khofifah regarding cooperation and what potentials we can establish between Al Azhar and East Java—particularly about scholarships and training,” stated Prof. Daud in a press release from the governor’s office.

Since Governor Khofifah took office in 2019, the East Java Provincial Government has sent 30 selected religious teachers and students annually to study at Al Azhar University in Cairo under a full scholarship program. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the academic and professional qualifications of religious educators in the province. Now in its fourth year, the program has expanded, with 33 students being sent to Al Azhar each year, supported with tuition, living expenses, and accommodation in Cairo.

Governor Khofifah has made continuous efforts to increase the number of scholarships provided, aiming to improve human resource development in East Java. She expressed hope that the quota for Al Azhar scholarship recipients would continue to rise in the coming years.

Prof. Daud emphasized Al Azhar’s openness to welcoming more students from East Java, explaining that the scholarship quotas are usually set by the central government, but the institution remains accessible to all qualified candidates.

The meeting also addressed Al Azhar’s dedication to promoting the Islamic principles of moderation and tolerance. “We know that Al Azhar—led by the Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb—is very concerned with spreading moderation, tolerance, and deradicalization. They are eager to collaborate on teaching these values to children,” said Governor Khofifah.

Al Azhar University has successfully utilized creative methods, such as comic books, to teach children the values of tolerance and moderation. The institution has collaborated with various countries, including Malaysia, to promote these principles. Governor Khofifah suggested that this initiative could be effectively coordinated with Indonesia’s central government and the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment to further strengthen programs targeting women and children.

The meeting marked an important step in reinforcing educational ties and promoting shared values between East Java and Al Azhar University, with both parties committed to expanding opportunities for students and fostering a culture of tolerance in the region.