Quietly making steady progress on the national stage, the Center for the Study of Religion and Christian-Muslim Relations (CSR-CMR) recently welcomed a meaningful partnership with a Christian college in Sumatra (Institut Agama Kristen Negeri Tarutung or IAKN Tarutung for short). While CSR-CMR has never sought the spotlight, this collaboration, formalized during an official visit by the IAKN Tarutung Research and Community Service Institute (LPPM) on Friday, February 20, 2026, reflects the Center’s ongoing commitment to bridging communities, as marked by the signing of an Implementation Agreement (IA) between the two institutions.
In his opening remarks, CSR-CMR’s director, Sumanto Al Qurtuby, highlighted the Center’s commitment to supporting UKSW’s global engagement initiatives by conducting impactful research programs and collaborating with diverse research and academic institutions worldwide.
The event also allowed CSR-CMR to present its growing partnerships with national stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia), the National Research and Innovation Agency (Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional), and the National Counterterrorism Agency (Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme), underscoring its credibility in promoting interreligious dialogue and ethical research practices.
The IAKN Tarutung delegation, led by its chairperson, Dr. Ratna Saragih, expressed interest in CSR-CMR’s approach to research management and governance. Discussions focused on launching joint research projects, building institutional capacity, and setting higher standards in research ethics and publication. Furthermore, core members of CSR-CMR who attended the meeting included Izak Lattu, Petsy Jessy Ismoyo, and Suwarto.
As a result of the new agreement, both institutions have outlined follow-up activities that include collaborating on ethical approval systems; conducting joint research on interreligious studies, gender, and ecotheology; organizing academic retreats; and writing publications together. In the following months, CSR-CMR reps, Sumanto Al Qurtuby and Izak Lattu (CSR-CMR Chair of the Academic Council), will be invited to IAKN Tarutung to start coaching an academic writing workshop. These initiatives position CSR-CMR as a mentoring hub and help foster a robust research ecosystem among faith-based higher education institutions throughout Indonesia.
This partnership underscores CSR-CMR’s continued success in nurturing inclusive scholarly networks and advancing interdisciplinary research on religion, society, and peacebuilding. By extending its reach across regions, CSR-CMR strengthens its standing as a nationally recognized center of excellence committed to fostering ethical, collaborative, and impactful interreligious scholarship.
