The Islamic Economics Consortium continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening the educational and professional ecosystem within the field of Sharia economics, particularly for master’s students in Indonesia. This consortium serves as a bridge connecting academics, practitioners, regulators, and the broader community to collaborate, share knowledge, and drive innovation in Sharia-based finance and economics.
Student involvement in consortium activities offers significant benefits, including access to cutting-edge research, opportunities for collaboration with Islamic financial institutions, and the enhancement of practical skills directly applicable in the professional world. Recognizing the significance of this initiative, the Master of Sharia Economics Study Program, Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business (FEBI), UIN Sunan Kalijaga, in collaboration with the Master’s Program Student Association (HMPM), organized the Islamic Economics Consortium (IEC) event on Friday, 15 November 2024. This was followed by an expert panel session during a public lecture titled “The Contribution of Islamic Finance to the SDGs: Supporting the Halal Industry in Developing Countries.”
The Islamic Economics Consortium featured an academic workshop attended by various universities, including Airlangga University, Brawijaya University, and Gadjah Mada University (UGM). The public lecture brought in international speakers: Dr. Muhamad Abduh from the School of Business and Economics at Universiti Brunei Darussalam, and Dr. Leo Indra Wardhana, S.E., M.Sc., CFP, from the Vocational School of Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta. Through his research, Dr. Muhamad Abduh emphasized the significance of Islamic social finance instruments such as zakat, waqf, and infaq as foundational financial tools to support the halal food sector, enabling access to capital for production, distribution, and halal food security projects. Dr. Leo Indra Wardhana, S.E., M.Sc., CFP, complemented this with an in-depth analysis based on his empirical research on the role of Islamic banks in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He noted that while Islamic banks currently provide less environmentally friendly financing compared to conventional banks, their potential to allocate green financing is steadily increasing over time. The empirical research presented by both speakers deeply inspired students, particularly in terms of thesis topic selection, methodology, and research depth.
Through this consortium, international collaboration has been strengthened, broadening students’ perspectives on the challenges facing Islamic economics across the globe, particularly its role in supporting the SDGs and the halal industry. This program fosters the exchange of ideas, cross-campus and cross-country approaches, and the development of innovative solutions tailored to the needs of the global community.
With these contributions, the Islamic Economics Consortium and the public lecture have become vital platforms not only for connecting students with the professional world but also for empowering them to become agents of change in the development of a more inclusive and sustainable Islamic economy in the future. [Zy]