In a landmark development for higher education and interfaith studies in Indonesia, Satya Wacana Christian University (SWCU) inaugurated the Center of Excellence: Center for the Study of Religion and Christian-Muslim Relations (CSR-CMR) on Thursday, April 16, 2026. The historic launch, the first of its kind since UKSW’s founding in 1956, was marked by an international seminar featuring distinguished national and international panelists, including Richard McCallum, the Director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Studies (CMCS), Oxford, the United Kingdom.
Established as a Center of Excellence (CoE), CSR-CMR represents a departure from the conventional Study Centers (Pusat Studi) typically found at SWCU and other Indonesian universities. Functioning as a “mini-university” under the rector’s direct authority, the CoE is entrusted with fulfilling the Tri Dharma (Three Duties) of Higher Education: teaching, research, and community service.
The CoE is further tasked with advancing the internationalization of SWCU through strategic partnerships with leading institutions both in Indonesia and abroad. It aims to spearhead high-impact research and academic programs that meet global standards. Looking ahead, CSR-CMR plans to offer specialized training and degree programs in interfaith studies and Christian-Muslim relations, supported by the development of a “living laboratory” fostering interfaith harmony.
Sumanto Al Qurtuby, Head of CSR-CMR, noted that the center has already established collaborative ties with prominent institutions, including the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs, and the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University (USA). Following the inauguration, CSR-CMR also signed an MoU with CMCS Oxford.
The center’s chairman also noted that CSR-CMR has been accepted as an official member of the Network of Centers for Christian-Muslim Relations (NCCMR), a global network of institutions having similar concerns on interfaith studies and interreligious relations, particularly Christian-Muslim relations worldwide. Sumanto also emphasized that many of CSR-CMR’s initiatives will be conducted in English to ensure accessibility to a broad international audience, both academic and non-academic communities.
The SWCU leadership has expressed strong support for CoE, viewing CSR-CMR as a pivotal step in the university’s ongoing pursuit of becoming a world-class university.
Inspire 2026 Inauguration
Alongside the launch of CSR-CMR, the event also marked the inauguration of the International Symposium on Peace, Integrity, and Responsiveness to Eco-theology (Inspire), organized by the Center for Interfaith Harmony (PKUB) of Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, in collaboration with CSR-CMR.
This symposium represents PKUB’s first international conference, convening academics, practitioners, community leaders, and stakeholders from Indonesia and abroad. In anticipation of the September 2026 symposium, organizers will issue a call for papers and host a screening of a distinguished peace-themed film.
Muhammad Adib Abdushomad, Head of PKUB, explained that Inspire 2026—also known as Indonesia Inspiration—seeks to establish Indonesia’s model for interfaith harmony as a global standard. He highlighted that the concept of “rukun” encompasses harmony not only among religious communities and individuals, but also with the environment. Dr. Adib expressed hope that the symposium would proceed successfully, particularly amid current global uncertainties.
Participants in the Inauguration and International Seminar
In addition to students and lecturers at SWCU, various community leaders attended the event, including the rector and leadership of UKSW, Richard McCallum, Muhammad Adib Abdushomad, Suwarsono (Director of Christian Religious Education, the General Directorate of Christian Community Guidance (Dirjen Bimas Kristen), Ministry of Religious Affairs, Republic of Indonesia), Willi Toisuta (UKSW’s 3rd Rector), Samsul Ma’arif (Director of the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies), Fatimah Husain (Professor at UIN Sunan Kalijaga), Ferry Mamahit (Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on Religion and Culture), leaders and academics of UIN Salatiga, caretakers and teachers of Islamic boarding schools in Salatiga, administrators of the Salatiga City Interfaith Harmony Forum, as well as religious leaders from Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and others.
