Study Islamic Business in Yogyakarta

 

ACICIS offers a semester-long study option on Islamic Business and Economics taught in English at Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) in Yogyakarta. Students can study a number of subjects including Islamic Thought, Islamic Accounting and Islamic Business Ethics. The experience will give participants greater insight into the Indonesian economy, and a deeper understanding of Islam and how Muslim values and laws can and do affect approaches to business, particularly in Indonesia.

ACICIS employs a full time Resident Director, normally an Australian academic, plus Indonesian staff to assist ACICIS students in Indonesia. Students can study for 1 or 2 semesters, and enjoy a 3 day live-in orientation on arrival. ACICIS fully assists with visa processing, which is normally arranged through the Indonesian embassies in Perth, Western Australia, or Singapore. Family members can also accompany the applicant.

This study option is not just open to Australian students. Anyone interested in knowing more about Islamic Business is welcome to apply.

Australian students who go to Indonesia with ACICIS normally get their courses credited towards their degree at their home university in Australia. This may well be true for students in other countries too, but you must check this for yourself.

Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII)

UII has many highly qualified teaching staff. Australian academic Rebecca Meckelburg - a political scientist who has been living in Indonesia for a number of years - is an economics lecturer and the manager of international program development at UII. She says that there are many differences between Islamic economics and western economics.

"Many developing countries with large Muslim communities have large reserves of natural resources and significant potential for growth and development of their human resource base. Many of them are seeking collaboration partners for the development of their economies, infrastructure, technology and management practices. Australians and other people trained in western philosophies, in particular in the field of Economics, need to have a good understanding of Islamic business practices. As business extends further into Islamic countries, the next generation of business executives needs to know more about a country than its GDP figures. They need to have an understanding, for example, of syariah accounting and banking practice and Islamic business ethics."

UII was founded in 1945 by leading Indonesian Islamic political figures such as Muhammad Hatta, Mohammad Natsir, and Wachid Hasyim. Today UII is a modern, progressive university located on several campuses in the north of Yogyakarta. UII has many Research Institutes, including Islamic Teaching, Information Management, Community Service and Human Rights. They also have an Islamic boarding school (pesantren), an outward bound centre, a publishing company, an ISP, and various charities. The Faculty of Economics is committed to providing a quality learning environment for its students and academic staff, and they have modern teaching facilities and many cultural and sporting groups.

Scholarships

ACICIS offers one scholarship per semester for a student to study at UII. Read more about the Islamic Business study scholarships

Included in the program

  • are assigned an English-speaking personal tutor for the whole semester to help them to navigate life in Indonesia, to be a friend, and to maximize their understanding of Indonesian life and culture and Indonesian language acquisition.
  • have the opportunity to observe first hand how Islamic business operates by taking part in an internship placement with an Indonesian business in Yogyakarta. In order to facilitate easy communication, an Indonesian interpreter/ internship partner will accompany each student. Students will be required to write a work report of between 3000 and 4000 words and present their report in a class seminar.
  • have the option of taking other units in English such as Introduction to Indonesian Language and Culture.
  • have the opportunity to learn a significant amount of the Indonesian language if they wish.
  • can board with a Muslim family during their stay. There are many accommodation options in Yogyakarta to choose from. UII also offers a special "homestay" option with a Muslim family for the duration of study. This is not compulsory but can give students the "inside experience" of the daily life in Muslim communities in Yogyakarta.
  • can stay at the UII pesantren (Islamic boarding school) during their stay.
  • can attend a village studies program. The Indonesian rural economy supports the everyday livelihoods of more than half of Indonesia's 200 million strong population. To give you the opportunity to see first hand what life is like for Indonesia's farming communities, we provide a four day "village studies" program in a small village in Central Java. This community has had many foreigners visit and stay in their community as part of the program since 2002. This community is happy to share their views and life experiences about the current and future condition of Indonesian farmers in Central Java.
  • can attend many cultural events and performances taking place in and around the city.
  • are awarded a Certificate of Achievement in Islamic Business Studies on successful completion of the semester.

Other Issues & Material

“Do you have to wear a hijab?”
A lesson in cultural sensitivity
Application Forms
Poster 1
Poster 2
Brochure
Photos of Universitas Islam Indonesia

Units available each semester

Units of study are worth 2 or 3 sks (points) and 15 sks is the equivalent of a full semester workload. Below is a list of units, most of which will be offered each semester. Others will be added as preparations for the pilot semester continue. Click on the unit names below to see a unit syllabus and unit outline.

Unit Name
SKS
Accounting for Islamic Banking 3
Islamic Business Ethics 2
Islamic Leadership 2
Islamic Macro Economics 3
Islamic Micro Economics 3
Islamic Teaching (Philosophy, History and Social Relevance) 2
Islamic Teaching (Religious Practice) 2
Islamic Thought and Civilization 2
Development Economics 3
Economics, Natural Resources and the Environment 3
Indonesian Economy 3
Management Communication 3
Indonesian Language and Culture 3
Internship 3

Interesting Links

Business Week Islamic Banks: A novelty no longer
Int Herald Tribune Niche market spreads to the mainstream
On Line Opinion The Muslim dollar: Australian financial sector - take note
Asia Times The global march of Islamic banking
Epoch Times Islamic banking making inroads
Time Banking on faith
BBC Islamic banking 'goes mainstream'

Dinar Standard

Online Islamic business journal
  (also submit articles to The Dinar Standard)