The Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS) is a consortium of three universities: Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga (UIN), and Duta Wacana Christian University (UKDW). Together they offer an integrative, international Ph.D. program in inter-religious studies. This is the only Religious Studies Ph.D. Program that is co-sponsored by Muslim, Christian, and national-secular universities.

The primary strength of ICRS is the study of Indonesian religions, especially Islam. Indonesia includes the largest and most dynamic Muslim population in the world. ICRS also has strong resources for study of Indonesian Christianity and can facilitate research on Balinese Hinduism, Indonesian Buddhism, Indonesian Chinese religions and indigenous local religions. ICRS encourages comparative study with religious movements in other parts of the world.

The program is conducted in English and includes one semester at leading foreign university. Non-Indonesian students may choose to spend the semester in an intensive Indonesian language and culture program. ICRS accepts student from all religions and nationalities. With it combined human library resources, ICRS share a common commitment to inter-religious dialogue and the promotion of peace in Indonesia and the world.

Vision

To be an outstanding, excellent, internationally respected graduate program and research center in inter-religious studies.

Mission

• To create an interdisciplinary, an inter-religious dialogue between scholars from different religious, academic and cultural backgrounds in the study of religion.
• To educate Indonesian and international teachers, leaders and scholars of religion who are skilled in cross-disciplinary and inter-religious communication.
• To produce outstanding research and publications that promote inter-religious understanding of the role of the religions in the world.
• To promote international cooperation between universities and maintain international standards of academic excellence and fiscal responsibility.
• To develop Indonesian resources that support national and international reconciliation, justice and peace.

History

On October 6, 2006, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the three Rectors from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga (UIN), and Duta Wacana Christian University (UKDW) was signed. The ceremony took place at the Sultan Palace in which Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, the Governor of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta. Based on the agreement (MoU), the three universities agree to establish a consortium namely the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS) which   located in and accredited by Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada. ICRS is part of the Graduate Program in Religious and Cross-cultural Studies at UGM that includes an M.A. program called CRCS (Center for Religious and Cross Cultural Studies).

Ten years experience at Graduate school of Universitas Gadjah Mada, CRCS proved that the teaching and guidance of S2 students in the study of religions strongly supported by close cooperation between the lecturers of Universitas Gadjah Mada with other universities, especially State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga (UIN), and Duta Wacana Christian University (UKDW). In this context, emerged the idea to establish and build a single integrative and interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in religious studies between Muslim, Christian and “secular” universities is unique. The S3 program is the form of a consortium of three higher education institutions with the name of ICRS for doctoral level. ICRS is supported and legitimated by the Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga (UIN), and Duta Wacana Christian University (UKDW).

The  highest  governing  body  of  ICRS  is  the  ICRS  Board  of Trustees  (Majelis  Konsorsium).  The  Board  of  Trustees  is  directly  appointed  by  the Rectors  of  the  three  universities and it consists  of  13  members, including 4-6 representatives of each university who are appointed by the Rectors of their universities. Member of  Board of Trustees are; Siti Syamsiyatun, M.A., Ph.D. (current Director of ICRS-Yogya);  Prof. Dr. Bernard Adeney-Risakotta, (ICRS); Prof. Dr. Umar Anggara Jenie (UGM); Prof, Dr. Irwan Abdullah (UGM); Dr. Zainal Abidin Bagir (UGM); Dr. Wening Udasmoro (UGM); Prof. Dr. Hartono, DEA, DESS (UGM); Prof. Dr. Banawiratma (UKDW); Prof. Dr. E. Gerrit Singgih (UKDW); Dr. Jeanny Dhewayani (UKDW); Dr. Yahya Wijaya (UKDW); Prof. Dr. Iskandar Zulkarnain (UIN SK); Prof. Dr. M. Machasin (UIN SK); Dr. Fatimah Husein (UIN SK); Dr. Sekar Ayu Aryani (UIN SK).
Prof. Dr. Bernard Adeney-Risakotta was chosen as the founding Director of ICRS. He is assigned from UKDW to UGM for a period of three years, to serve as the full-time Director of ICRS.  He remains on the faculty of UKDW  and  will  continue  to  teach  in  the  Graduate  Programs  of  all  three  universities (UGM, UIN Sunan Kalijaga and UKDW).

Until the year 2014, ICRS already have 68 students coming from Indonesia and abroad such as China, Philippines, United State, Egypt, Serbia, Poland, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, Gambia, Sierra Leone and India. With 45 professors and 15 staffs, ICRS is a qualified international Graduate Program in Inter- Religious Studies. Recently, ICRS also develops and implements some programs which have social responsibility through some event such as research, seminar, workshop, art performance, inter-religious conference and relation.