UIN Public Relations – The Rector of UIN Banten attended the launch of the Sriwijaya Tangerang State Buddhist Institute (IABN) as well as the inauguration of its information center. He was welcomed by the Rector of IABN Sriwijaya, Dr. Li. Edi Ramawijaya Putra.
The launch and inauguration of the IABN Sriwijaya Tangerang Information Center were officiated by Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar. On that occasion, the Minister of Religious Affairs commended the performance of IABN’s leadership, which he credited with accelerating the development of the campus infrastructure.
The Minister of Religious Affairs said that the construction of the building, which was completed in a relatively short time, demonstrates a combination of strong leadership and sound management. This combination is a key asset for the development and progress of higher education institutions.
In his view, religious universities cannot simply limit themselves to building physical facilities. Campuses must also serve as centers for the advancement of knowledge, character development, and community service.
The Minister of Religious Affairs linked the building’s existence to the philosophy of Yowana, Shuka, Widya, and Laya: beauty, happiness, knowledge that liberates humanity, and a place of refuge. With this philosophy in mind, the campus building is expected to become a home of knowledge that brings true happiness.
“This building must become the heart of life at IABN Tangerang,” said the Minister of Religious Affairs. He hopes that buildings managed by religious communities will not only serve as venues for internal activities but will also evolve into a “Big House for Humanity”—a large home for humanity that is open to people from all walks of life.
The Minister of Religious Affairs also encouraged religious universities to expand access to knowledge and research findings. According to him, universities must foster cross-institutional collaboration—including with Islamic universities such as State Islamic Universities (UIN)—so that knowledge resources can be utilized more widely.
He emphasized the importance of providing access to academic works, including books and research findings by professors. The knowledge generated by universities, he said, will be of greater benefit if it is accessible to the general public, rather than being confined to academic circles.
This spirit of openness needs to be an integral part of the development strategy for religious universities in Indonesia. Collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the use of digital technology can strengthen the universities’ contribution to national development.
On the same occasion, the Minister of Religious Affairs highlighted the challenges posed by the development of artificial intelligence (AI). He cautioned that technological progress must be balanced with moral responsibility, ethics, and adequate oversight.
Concerns about the development of artificial superintelligence have also been voiced by a number of leading global figures in technology and science. Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio, for example, are among those who support the call to ensure that the development of superintelligence is not rushed without adequate safeguards and controls.
The Minister of Religious Affairs cautioned that increasingly sophisticated technology has the potential to pose serious risks if left unchecked, including threats to cybersecurity, the nation’s strategic systems, and the survival of humanity.
Therefore, religion must play an active role in guiding technological development. Religious values must serve as an ethical foundation so that scientific progress does not merely pursue technical capabilities, but also takes into account human dignity, safety, and environmental sustainability.
The message emphasizes that religious universities have a strategic responsibility: to produce scholars who not only master science and technology but are also able to use their expertise for the greater good of society.
The inauguration of the IABN Sriwijaya Tangerang building is expected to serve as a catalyst for strengthening the campus’s role as a center for education, interfaith dialogue, scientific advancement, and humanitarian service.
The post UIN Banten Rector Attends Inauguration of IABN Building in Tangerang: Minister of Religious Affairs Highlights the Campus as a “Big House for Humanity” first appeared on Spirituality, Intellectuality, Professionalism.
