UI Rector Ari Kuncoro and NU chairman Said Aqil Siradj inked a memorandum of understanding to this effect at the public university's Salemba Campus in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.
Kuncoro said the collaboration with NU is a part of the university's endeavors to enable students to develop emotional intelligence, and good behavior and mindsets, as suggested by the values of state ideology Pancasila.
"I hope the MoU can be followed up by concrete programs," he was quoted as saying in a statement that ANTARA received here on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, NU chairman Said Aqil Siradj said the NU central executive board's cooperation with UI was aimed at preventing the growth of radicalism at university campuses.
The cooperation with UI, which covers the fields of education, research, and community service, is the first of its kind for NU with universities, he added.
The collaboration would be implemented through programs such as capacity building, research projects, seminars, public lectures, and science competitions, Siradj added.
ANTARA has reported earlier that the phenomenon of "self-radicalized lone wolves" has become a growing threat for many countries, including Indonesia.
According to a 2014 study by Kumar Ramakrishna, "internet-driven self-radicalization of the lone wolves is an increasing cause of concern for governments and societies everywhere."
To deal with the threat of self-radicalized individuals, he suggested that governments and communities build good collaboration and consider five dimensions comprising "sender, message, recipient, mechanism, and context" in their counter-terrorism strategies.
As former chief of the National Counter-terrorism Agency (BNPT), Saud Usman Nasution, has suggested, holding dialogues is also necessary for efforts to counter terrorism and curb the growth of radicalism among young people.
Moreover, treating convicted terrorists humanely during their prison term and after their release by providing them with economic opportunities is also important, he added.
According to director of the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC), Sidney Jones, humane treatment may persuade them to refrain from the use of violence.
Related news: Radicalism, spread of hoaxes can erode national unity: VP
Related news: Tourism Ministry, BNPT develop anti-radicalization program
Related news: Be vigilant of possible radical movements: Ministry's special staff
Translator: Feru L, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
