The Islamic Family Law Study Program Faculty of Sharia Takes a Central Role in Marriage Counseling Collaboration with BIMAS RI

SHARIA – On Monday, March 4, 2024, the fifth-floor auditorium of the Ir. Soekarno Building at UIN Maliki Malang was filled with hundreds of students from the Islamic Family Law program. They eagerly attended the National Seminar on Islamic Family Law, titled “Government Policy in Strengthening Family Resilience.”

The event was opened by Dr. Isroqunnajah, M.Ag., the Vice Rector for Cooperation and Institutional Development at UIN Maliki Malang. In his opening remarks, he specifically addressed the issue of family resilience. He also mentioned that future job opportunities for graduates of the Islamic Family Law program will increase, thanks to the Marriage Guidance Program launched by the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Indonesia.

This event is a result of the collaboration between the Islamic Guidance Department of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and UIN Maliki Malang. UIN Maliki is the first university to embrace this strategic partnership, as one of its flagship programs, led by the Faculty of Sharia, aligns with the programs of the Islamic Guidance Department. This program is known as the Family Corner.

The event, which is planned to be held regularly and will culminate in a Training of Trainers (TOT) for Marriage Guidance, featured Prof. Dr. Phil. H. Kamaruddin, M.A. (Director General of Islamic Guidance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs) and Dr. H. Agus Suryo Suripto, S.Ag., M.H. (Head of the Family Guidance Subdirectorate). They thoroughly discussed the issues surrounding marriage, both in terms of pre-marital preparation and family resilience. Government policies that form the basis for implementing the Marriage Guidance program were explored, along with specific case studies that have been addressed.

“The divorce rate in Indonesia is 1 in 4 marriages. Therefore, every couple should have the skills to manage the dynamics of family life. This is why Marriage Guidance is essential, especially as young couples still dominate the marriage statistics in Indonesia,” said Dr. Agus.

In addition to interactive dialogue, this national seminar also served as a historic forum for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Director General of Islamic Guidance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and UIN Maliki Malang.

“This MoU will serve as a foundation for further collaborative activities related to marriage counseling. Through the Family Corner and the potential of Islamic Family Law students, God willing, the Faculty of Sharia will pioneer activities related to this program,” emphasized Prof. Sudirman, M.A., Dean of the Faculty of Sharia at UIN Maliki Malang.