The Faculty of Islamic Studies (FIS) at Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) successfully organized the Masterclass in Digital Humanities 2025 on August 19–20, 2025, under the theme [Re]searching Digital Islam in Contemporary Indonesia. The two-day program, held at the Lecture Hall of Faculty A Building, UIII, brought together twenty-six participants from various cities and institutions who actively engaged in exploring new approaches to studying Muslim identities, beliefs, and practices within Indonesia’s dynamic digital landscape.
The event was officially opened by Prof. Yanwar Pribadi, Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies, who emphasized the importance of strengthening critical and interdisciplinary scholarship in Islamic studies. His remarks were followed by a welcoming note from the convener, Bhirawa Anoraga, who highlighted the significance of this program in providing a platform for scholars to deepen their research skills in the field of digital humanities.
The first day of the Masterclass featured sessions led by Martin Slama (The Institute for Social Anthropology, Austrian Academy of Sciences), who discussed the transformation of social media in shaping Indonesia’s Islamic field; Diatyka Widya Permata Yasih (Universitas Indonesia), who explored the intersections of precarity, piety, and neoliberal digital culture; and Muhammad Zamzam Fauzanafi (Universitas Gadjah Mada), who introduced an innovative approach to sonic Islam and its relation to the climate crisis through multisensory ethnography.
On the second day, the discussions were continued by Najib Kailani (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta), who analyzed affect, fun, and the everyday experience of digital Islam beyond discursive boundaries. This was followed by Ahmad Nuril Huda (Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional), who raised critical reflections on the meaning of “digital” in digital Islam and the role of ethnography in understanding it. The final session was delivered by Andina Dwifatma (Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya), who examined Islamic web series and their influence on women’s piety in contemporary Indonesia.
Participants expressed their enthusiasm for the program, noting its significance in advancing discussions on digital Islam. Ade Jaya Suryani shared her hope that the Faculty would continue to organize similar initiatives in the future, while Ahmad Habibi Syahid described the Masterclass as a “cool and awesome event” that should be expanded in the coming years. Likewise, Mohammad Ulil Rosyad emphasized the need for more digital forums of this kind, reflecting the participants’ eagerness for further scholarly engagement.
The Faculty of Islamic Studies extends its sincere appreciation to the mentors, participants, and organizing committee for their contributions to the success of this event. The Masterclass in Digital Humanities 2025 demonstrates UIII’s commitment to fostering critical dialogue and innovative approaches to the study of Islam in the digital age, further strengthening its plan to become a global hub for digital Islam studies.
