Indonesia, Egypt sign agreement to inaugurate Indonesian Language Department at Al-Azhar University

CAIRO – 8 November 2025: During the visit to Egypt, Indonesian Minister of Education Professor Dr. Abdul Mu'ti signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Professor Dr. Salama Daoud, President of Al-Azhar University, and officially inaugurated the Indonesian Language Department at the Faculty of Languages and Translation at Al-Azhar University on Thursday, November 6, 2025. 

In a statement, the Embassy of Indonesia in Cairo welcomed Dr. Abdul Mu'ti’s visit to Egypt on November 6–7, 2025, aimed at strengthening educational cooperation between the two nations.

The establishment of the department marks the culmination of close collaboration between the Indonesian Ministry of Education, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Cairo, and Al-Azhar University, the statement said.

In his remarks, Minister Abdul Mu'ti’s expressed his deep gratitude to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and the President of Al-Azhar University for their trust and continued support for Indonesia and for their dedicated efforts in guiding Indonesian students to become ambassadors of moderation and tolerance. He described the opening of the Indonesian Language Department as a historic milestone, stating: “Language is not merely a means of communication but a bridge that connects people. The inclusion of Indonesian at Al-Azhar University reflects international recognition of Indonesian as a global language and a symbol of Indonesia’s growing cultural presence.”

For his part, Professor Dr. Salama Daoud, President of Al-Azhar University, expressed his pride in Al-Azhar’s distinguished relationship with Indonesia, noting that Indonesian students have always been held in high esteem by Al-Azhar’s professors and peers for their exemplary manners and conduct. 

He emphasized that the establishment of the Indonesian Language Department represents a valuable addition to the university’s expanding linguistic offerings, making Indonesian the fifteenth foreign language taught at Al-Azhar. He also highlighted that the department’s long-term success will depend on sustained support from the Indonesian government, particularly through the provision of qualified Indonesian language instructors.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Vice President of the University, the Dean of the Faculty, and several faculty members, along with approximately 350 students enrolled in the Indonesian Language Program. Also present were His Excellency Dr. Lutfi Rauf, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Egypt, along with a number of diplomats and staff members from the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo.

On Thursday, November 6, 2025, Minister Abdul Mu'ti also met with Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Latif, Egypt’s Minister of Education and Technical Education, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in basic and technical education. The meeting addressed several areas, including teacher and student exchanges, curriculum development, and the integration of modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence and computer programming, nto the secondary education system.

Both sides agreed that this partnership would serve as a platform for exchanging expertise and advancing the quality of education in both countries. The ministers also underscored the importance of moral and character education, emphasizing its role in nurturing a generation defined by ethics, creativity, and a sense of shared humanity.

On the evening of November 6, 2025, Minister Abdul Mu'timet with members of the Indonesian community in Egypt at the residence of the Indonesian Ambassador in Cairo. The gathering included representatives of the Indonesian Students Union in Egypt, regional student associations, medical students, teachers from the Indonesian School in Cairo, and representatives of Indonesia’s two largest Islamic organizations—Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama—as well as embassy officials and staff.

The following day, Friday, November 7, 2025, the Minister visited the Indonesian School in Cairo, located at the Indonesian Cultural Center in the Dokki district of Giza Governorate. He toured the school’s facilities, met with teachers, and reviewed the progress of academic programs, emphasizing the importance of improving the quality of education and curricula abroad in ways that reflect the spirit and values of the Indonesian national identity.