ICIIP 2025 Marks UMS Commitment to Advancing Islamic and Indigenous Psychology

The Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) continues to advance psychological studies grounded in Islamic and indigenous values. One of its key strategies is hosting the International Conference of Islamic and Indigenous Psychology (ICIIP), now in its third year.

ICIIP Chair and Head of the UMS Center for Islamic Psychology Studies, Fajar Ruddin, S.Psi., M.Sc., M.A., said the conference further strengthens UMS’s position as a global hub for the development of Islamic and indigenous psychology. This year’s theme is “Islamic & Indigenous Psychology for Global Challenges.”

“The conference, held on September 23–24, 2025, serves as an academic forum for psychologists, researchers, students, lecturers, and the general public who are committed to advancing psychology based on Islamic values and local wisdom,” Fajar explained on Friday (10/10/2025)

The pre-conference workshop was held on September 23, 2025, at the Faculty of Psychology, UMS. According to Fajar, the event attracted professional psychology students, lecturers, researchers, psychologists, and practitioners with a keen interest in the development of Islamic psychology.

Two experienced facilitators led the workshops: Dr. Nanik Prihartanti, M.Si., Psychologist, a lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology UMS, with the session “Mawas Diri: Journey to Self-Transformation”; and Dr. Bagus Riyono, M.A., Psychologist, Chair of the International Association of Muslim Psychologists, with the session “Tazkiya Therapy: Theoretical Foundations and Practice of Tazkiya Therapy.”

 Dr. Nanik Prihartanti, M.Si., Psychologist, of Faculty of Psychology UMS, delivers her presentation titled “Mawas Diri: Journey to Self-Transformation” during the 2025 ICIIP at the Faculty of Psychology, UMS, on September 23, 2025  

“Both workshops were designed as full-day sessions to provide participants with deep insights and practical skills in self-development and psychological therapy grounded in Islamic and indigenous values,” Fajar added.

The main conference followed the next day, September 24, 2025, held virtually, featuring four distinguished speakers: Dr. Bagus Riyono, Chair of the International Association of Muslim Psychologists (IAMP); Okina Fitriani, M.A., Ph.D., Psychologist, lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and founder of Enlightening Parenting; Prof. Dr. G. Hussein Rassool, lecturer at Charles Sturt University, Australia; and Aad Satria Permadi, M.A., Ph.D., lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology, UMS

The four keynote speakers delivered insights on the development of Islamic and indigenous psychology from conceptual foundations to intervention practices and the challenges of global implementation.

The conference brought together participants from UMS and various universities across Indonesia, including South Kalimantan, East Java, Jambi, Jakarta, and West Java, as well as international attendees from Malaysia and Taiwan.

The 2025 ICIIP series concluded with the call for papers session under the main theme “Islamic & Indigenous Psychology for Global Challenges.” Co-chair of ICIIP 2025, Septian Wahyu Rahmanto, S.Psi., M.Psi., Psychologist, explained that the session served as a forum to discuss the role of Islamic values and local wisdom in addressing increasingly complex global psychological challenges.

According to Septian, the paper presentations were held in a hybrid format and featured 48 presenters from Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Kenya, Tanzania, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Many of the studies presented proposed models of intervention and preventive strategies for psychological cases, while others explored religious practices as vital psychological resources.

Septian noted that the studies presented at ICIIP 2025 did not solely focus on Islamic contexts. Several research projects also explored indigenous psychology within various cultural settings.

“By bringing together cross-disciplinary perspectives, this conference demonstrates how Islamic and indigenous psychology can contribute to addressing global challenges such as mental health crises, social disintegration, and the demands of the modern workforce,” Septian emphasized.

He expressed optimism that the conference reflects UMS Faculty of Psychology’s strong commitment to advancing psychological science rooted in both Islamic values and local wisdom. The synergy of these two dimensions, he added, is expected to offer meaningful contributions to contemporary human civilization worldwide.

“This conference is not merely an academic gathering,” Septian concluded, “but a tangible effort by UMS to present psychology from a more holistic perspective, one that integrates spirituality and local wisdom to create real impact for humanity.”

Writer: Gede Arga Adrian

Editor: Fika Annisa Sholihah

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid