Muhammadiyah Programme

http://www.britishcouncil.org/indonesia-society-muhammadiyah-programmes.htm?mtklink=indonesia-society-muhammadiyah-programmes

Muhammadiyah Programme

A series of programmes have been developed in partnership with Indonesia’s second largest Muslim organisation, Muhammadiyah which aim at providing an opportunity to establish links with the UK and building capacity through working with key individuals responsible for policy making, education and youth initiatives.

The objective of the programme is to expose participants to the best practice in the UK in the areas of interfaith dialogue, religious education, and multiculturalism. It also aims to help strengthen understanding between Indonesia and the UK through the facilitation and development of links.

Muhammadiyah policy makers

Eleven regional heads of Muhammadiyah visited the UK in July 2005 to hold dialogues with a number of religious and cultural institutions for discussions on interfaith relationships and about the present and future need for respect between diverse parts of society. The participants said they were most satisfied with sessions conducted by the Bishop of London and the Archbishop of Southwark. As a follow up activity, participants agreed to choose ‘Religion, Radicalism and Multiculturalism’ as the general theme for follow-up seminars. Two visiting speakers from the UK also took part in 3 public seminars in Jakarta, Bandung and Magelang organised by Muhammadiyah policy makers.

‘Collaboration between the UK and Indonesia should be intensified to improve better understanding,’ said Din Syamsuddin, Chairman of Muhammadiyah.

K.H. Nasruddin Razak, Regional Head of Muhammadiyah from South Sulawesi, said to Tribun Timur Makassar of 3 August 2005, ‘I admire the UK even more after I realise that Islamic studies are very much in demand there. It is true that other secular countries are also undertaking studies on Islam but not the same as what I see in the UK.’