MALIKI ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY–Rector of UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, Prof. Dr. Hj. Ilfi Nur Diana, M.Si., attended the invitation to deliver a lecture at the event Breaking the Fast with Australian Alumni in Indonesia with the Australian Consulate-General Surabaya on Friday, March 6 2026. The activity which took place at Swiss-Belinn Malang was a Ramadan gathering event that brought together Australian education alumni in Indonesia.
In his lecture, Prof. Ilfi raised the theme "Ideal Woman" which highlights the role of women in the family and in public spaces. According to the Chancellor of UIN Maliki Malang, in the Islamic view men and women are created differently, but this difference is not to differentiate the degrees of the two. "God created men and women to be different, but not to be differentiated. What is different is the quality of oneself which in the Al-Qur'an is called piety as an indicator of the quality of men and women," said Prof. Ilfi.
Furthermore, Prof. Ilfi explained that the ideal woman in the future could emulate the spirit of the Prophet's wives in carrying out various roles in life. First, women should always be devoted to Allah by practicing the values of piety in their daily lives. Second, in family life, women are expected to be able to be the best partners for their husbands so as to create a harmonious and mutually strengthening family. Third, women also have an important role in the public sphere to contribute to community development according to their respective fields and expertise.
On this occasion, Prof. Ilfi also shared reflections on his academic journey as an alumnus of the sandwich program at The University of Queensland, Australia. This experience became an important part of her intellectual journey until she was trusted to lead UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang as the first female chancellor.
This breaking of the fast together was also attended by Mr. Glen Askew, Australian Consul General in Surabaya. In his speech, Glen Askew expressed his appreciation for the presence of Prof. Ilfi and lectures delivered to alumni. It is hoped that the presence of the Chancellor of UIN Maliki Malang will be an inspiration for Australian alumni in Indonesia, especially women, to continue to develop their leadership capacity and make real contributions to society.
Reporter: Nafiska Sayekti Ariyani