The State Islamic University (UIN) Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi is a State Islamic Higher Education Institution located in West Sumatra. UIN Bukittinggi is named after Syekh Muhammad Djamil Djambek, a pioneering Islamic scholar from West Sumatra in the early 20th century. Initially, UIN Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi was known as the State Islamic Institute (STAIN) Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi.
The history of STAIN is closely intertwined with the history of the State Islamic Institute (IAIN) Imam Bonjol Padang, as STAIN emerged from IAIN Imam Bonjol Padang. Discussing the history of IAIN Imam Bonjol Padang inevitably involves discussing the history of IAIN itself.
IAIN represents the realization of ideas and aspirations of Indonesian Muslims, who constitute the majority of the nation, to educate Islamic leaders for the nation’s struggle. This idea originated during the Dutch colonial period. Dr. Satiman Wirjosandjojo endeavored to establish a prestigious pesantren as a Higher Education Institution for Religion. However, this effort faced obstacles from the Dutch authorities. In 1940, the Union of Islamic Religious Teachers (PGAI) in Padang founded the Islamic Higher School (SIT), which operated until 1942 when Indonesia was occupied by Japan. During the Japanese occupation, efforts to establish Islamic universities continued, leading the Japanese government to promise Indonesian Muslims the establishment of a Higher Education Institution in Jakarta. Subsequently, several Islamic figures established a foundation chaired by Muhammad Hatta and its secretary, Muhammad Natsir.
On July 8, 1945 (27 Rajab 1364 H), the foundation established the Islamic College (STI) based in Jakarta under the leadership of Abdul Kahar Mudzakkir. Due to the transfer of the Indonesian government center to Yogyakarta after independence in 1946, STI also relocated and was renamed the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII) starting from March 22, 1948, with the addition of new faculties. Thus, UII had four faculties: 1) Faculty of Religion, 2) Faculty of Law, 3) Faculty of Economics, and 4) Faculty of Education. The Faculty of Religion at UII was later elevated and nationalized to become PTAIN (State Islamic Higher Education Institution), based on Government Regulation No. 34 of 1950, aimed at providing advanced Islamic education and serving as a center for the development and deepening of Islamic knowledge.
In 2014, the State Islamic Higher Education Institution (STAIN) Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi was upgraded to become the State Islamic Institute (IAIN) Bukittinggi, in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 181 of 2014. On June 8, 2022, IAIN Bukittinggi underwent another transformation to become the State Islamic University (UIN) Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi, as stipulated by Presidential Regulation No. 85 of 2022.