The Bukittinggi Manifesto: How UIN Bukittinggi is Tackling Western Hegemony and AI Ethics

Kamis, Juni 04, 2026

BUKITTINGGI — In an era dominated by rapid technological advancement and lingering Western hegemony in academia, Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi has staked a claim for the Global South. The Indonesian institution successfully concluded its 2nd International Student Research Forum (ISRF-2), a rigorous academic gathering spanning from April 23 to June 4, 2026, aimed at reshaping the landscape of modern student research.

Under the banner "Cultivating Intellect, Preserving Nature, and Upholding Ethics in a Tech-Driven World," the forum convened across three strategic clusters: Ecotheology, Science, and Disaster Management; Education; and Language and Literature. To ensure intellectual rigor, a cross-institutional panel of experts—including scholars from Universitas Negeri Padang and Radboud University—vetted the submissions.

The intellectual centerpiece of the forum arrived via Frans Dokman, a senior researcher at the Nijmegen Institute for Mission Studies at Radboud University, Netherlands. Addressing an audience navigating the turbulent waters of digital disruption, Dokman delivered a critical critique centered on three pillars:

• Decolonizing Research Methods: Dokman urged young scholars to break free from Western-centric frameworks, arguing for localized scientific methodologies that honor regional wisdom and realities.
• AI Ethics and Human Wisdom: In the age of artificial intelligence, Dokman asserted that AI must remain a tool, not a master. Human integrity, analytical depth, and moral validation must dictate academic truth.
• Academic Equality: He called for dismantling the invisible walls that prevent scientists from developing nations from participating as equals on the global scientific stage.

The university’s leadership lauded the initiative as a profound leap forward. Speaking on behalf of Rector Prof. Dr. Silfia Hanani, Vice Rector Dr. Edi Rosman praised the Student Research and Scientific Club (UKM-KIR) for organizing the event. "ISRF-2 is more than an exchange of ideas," Rosman noted. "It is a foundation for critical, ethical thinking amidst a technological onslaught."

The forum concluded by celebrating breakthrough papers that bridged traditional thought and modern crises. Notable honors included Filda’s paper in Ecotheology, which brilliantly cross-examined modern climate breakdown through the lens of Al-Shatibi’s classical Islamic philosophy, and Dina's team in Education for developing literacy-based Islamic instructional materials.

As the curtains fell, ISRF-2 proved that UIN Bukittinggi and the next generation of Global South scholars are not only ready to engage with the world but are poised to redefine the rules of engagement.

Source: Dr. Irwandi, SS., M.Pd / International Office of UIN Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi

Tags : Berita International Kegiatan

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