ABSTRACT
The Institut Agama Islam Negeri (IAIN) or State Institute for Islamic Studies2 has played an important role in the religious and educational life of the Indonesian Republic and this role may even become more prominent in the future. The first IAIN was officially created in 1960 in Yogyakarta, with a branch in Jakarta.3 Today, Indonesia has fourteen IAINs, comprising at least three faculties each. In addition, in 1997 thirty-three smaller Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Negeri (STAIN — State College for Islamic Sciences) were formed out of thirty-seven former outlying faculties of these IAINs and given autonomy.4 Today, well above 100,000 students are enrolled in these IAINs and STAINs.
