The event opened with remarks from the Dean of FUPI, Prof. Dr. H. Robby Habiba Abror, M.Hum. In his speech, he warmly welcomed the guests, including the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga. He highlighted the high global enthusiasm for the conference, with 40 papers accepted from 115 abstracts originating from nine countries. He encouraged the continuous development of international cooperation and collaboration. Prof. Robby specifically appreciated the close collaboration with the Iranian Embassy, which has been established through the "Iranian Corner" in the UIN library and various intellectual activities. He expressed hope that this cooperation would continue to be strengthened, in line with the Rector's vision: "Empowering Knowledge, Shaping the Future."
The Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, Ph.D., delivered the next address. He commended FUPI for selecting a highly challenging and relevant theme. Prof. Noorhaidi reaffirmed UIN Sunan Kalijaga's commitment to the "integration and interconnection" approach between religion and science to address contemporary challenges. He highlighted UIN as an "open and inclusive Islamic university" that welcomes students and faculty from diverse religious backgrounds. The Rector also expressed special appreciation for the presence of the Iranian Ambassador, which is expected to signal closer collaboration, including the enrichment of Iranian studies literature on campus.
The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, H.E. Dr. Mohammad Borojerdi, appeared as the keynote speaker with a speech titled "An Iranian Perspective on Constructive Engagement." Dr. Borojerdi explained that in the Islamic intellectual tradition, rationality and religiosity (faith) are not contradictory. Amidst the era of technological disruption such as AI, he emphasized the importance of harmonizing scientific progress with moral objectives.
According to him, religiosity serves as a "moral compass" for rationality. "Rationality without spirituality risks producing knowledge without wisdom. Conversely, religiosity without reason risks causing rigidity and isolation," he stated. He concluded his speech by inviting Iranian and Indonesian scholars and students to work together to "cultivate an open intellectual culture, ethical innovation, and spiritual depth" to face the challenges of the times.
The first day of the conference continued with plenary sessions and panel discussions that explored the main theme of the event in greater depth.
Three keynote speakers presented in the plenary session, namely:
Dr. Min Seong Kim from South Korea, a lecturer in Cultural Studies, who presented the topic “The Apocalypse has (so far) been Disappointing: Cultural Studies at the End of the World.”
Prof. Evangelos Angelo Afendras, Ph.D., Ambassador of the Communication Institute of Greece, who delivered the material “Rationality and Religiosity in the Disruption Era: A Personal Journey.”
Dr. Djarfour Ibrahim from Algeria, a researcher in the field of Islamic Studies, who discussed the Arabic topic تحديات ومظاهر عصر الاضطراب (الفوضى) (Challenges and Manifestations in the Era of Disruption (Chaos)).
The discussion sessions were dynamic, with various questions from participants demonstrating high enthusiasm for the issues raised.
The first day's activities concluded with the presentation of souvenirs to the speakers, followed by a luncheon with all participants and committee members.