Strengthening Global Footprints: As the International Office and CILEM Team Up to Launch CILEM 2025 and Expand UINSSC’s Global Reach
Cirebon, July 1 2025 — In a significant step toward institutional synergy and international expansion, the International Office (IO) of UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon and CILEM (Center for Islamic Law and Ethics of Mubadalah) are officially preparing the launch of CILEM 2025. The preparatory meeting was attended by key figures: Lala Bumela Sudimantara, Ph.D. Sudimantara, Ph.D. (Director of IO), Ivo Dinasta Yanuar, M.Appling (Secretary of IO), and core members of the CILEM team – Maimunah Mudjahid, M.Hum (Secretary), Fitriana, M.H. (Program Manager), and Nurul Bahrul Ulum, M.P.P. (Member). Operational tasks were executed by the Global Engagement Team (GET), IO’s group of student interns, who handled event logistics, promotional content, reporting documents, and technical equipment. Several students from HKI (Hukum Keluarga Islam) were also present, participating as audience members in the meeting. “This collaboration is a living testament to how cross-unit partnerships can deliver academic programs with global ambition,” remarked Lala Bumela Sudimantara, Ph.D., emphasizing the shared responsibility and strategic alignment between IO and CILEM.
The upcoming launch, scheduled for 7 July 2025, will take the form of an international seminar titledIndonesian Islam for the World: From Gus Dur’s Legacy to the KUPI Movement." Featuring prominent speakers such as Samia Kotele (Lyon University, France), Prof. Greg Barton (Deakin University, Australia), and Dr. Fatima Seedat (University of Cape Town, South Africa), the event will also host figures like Dr. Faqihuddin Abdul Kodir, Lc., MA (UINSSC& KUPI Council) and Prof. Dr. Aan Jaelani, M.Ag., Rector of UIN SSC. This curated lineup signifies not only global engagement but also thematic focus on Islamic gender ethics, social justice, and progressive Indonesian scholarship. Preparation discussions addressed panel formats, ceremonial structure, international outreach, and final documentation, all while maintaining academic rigor and professionalism.
From the IO side, the GET interns meticulously worked on their respective tasks after prior role plotting. Responsibilities included managing correspondence and administrative letters, designing promotional posters, crafting social media content, producing event flyers and reels videos, and checking audiovisual equipment. “GET has been remarkable,” said Maimunah Mudjahid, M.Hum. “They’re not just students—they are future global professionals learning real-time institutional work ethics while supporting this international event.” The level of autonomy and responsibility given to the GET team has demonstrated how practical learning can be interwoven into institutional projects with high-level outcomes.
Fitriana, M.H., as the Program Manager of CILEM, explained how the launch is not only symbolic but also strategic. “This is more than an inauguration—it’s our way of declaring our research direction, our collaborations, and our intellectual priorities to the world,” she stated. CILEM 2025 is designed to be a dynamic hub for interdisciplinary research in Islamic law and ethics, with a special emphasis on gender discourse and community impact. Fitriana emphasized the importance of anchoring this initiative in international dialogue through well-prepared programming and academically grounded presentations, ensuring the launch is both relevant and impactful.
In the same spirit, Nurul Bahrul Ulum, M.P.P., emphasized the scholarly infrastructure embedded in the preparation. “Every document we produce, every segment of this seminar, and every digital output must reflect citation ethics, academic quality, and cross-cultural clarity,” she noted. Her contribution focused on aligning the program with both Indonesian context and international relevance. She further encouraged students and interns to view this event not merely as a task-based activity, but as a form of academic authorship in action—where each section contributes to the larger story of Islamic studies in Southeast Asia.
Concluding the session, Lala Bumela Sudimantara, Ph.D. reinforced the vision of integrating institutional collaboration with capacity-building for international program delivery. “UINSSCis not just hosting an event, we are building a legacy, and CILEM is part of that trajectory,” he affirmed. By synergizing internal student talent and faculty-level expertise, the IO–CILEM alliance offers a working model for how academic units can operationalize global impact. The upcoming launch is not only the beginning of a center – it is the public unveiling of UINSSC’s intellectual diplomacy in motion.
Author: Muhammad Azkiya Bahtsulkhoir