Alumni Profile
Nikmatullah lectures in the Faculty of Ushuluddin and Quranic Studies at Mataram’s State Islamic University (UIN). She was also chairperson of the UIN’s Women’s Study Centre (2004-2011) and a trainer for several gender mainstreaming programs, including the AusAID supported Equivalent Madrasah-Based Management Program (2007-2010) and the Gender-based Education Training program of the Indonesian Department of Education in West Nusa Tenggara (2008-2012). She is currently a Member of the West Nusa Tenggara Council for Regional Research and also an Expert Team Member of the Long-Term Regional Development Planning Team for the Province of West Nusa Tenggara for 2025-2045.
In her capacity as Committee member of Aisyiyah (the women’s educational organisation within the national Islamic movement Muhammadiyah), Nikmatullah also participated in several international programs, including the Exchange Program on Religion and Society: Indonesia-USA Dialogue in the USA (2008), the Shortcourse on Gender, Sexuality, and Health at Mahidol University in Thailand (2009), the Australia Indonesia Muslim Exchange Program in Australia (2010), the International Human Rights Training Program in Canada (2011), the Shortcourse on Research Methodology at Leiden University in the Netherlands (2015), and the Partnership in Islamic Education Scholarship at the Australian National University (2017-2018).
Nikmatullah’s undergraduate studies focused on interpretation of the Hadith (statements of the Prophet) at Sunan Kalijaga Islamic State University in Yogyakarta. Both her Masters and PhD were completed at Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University in Jakarta. Her research interests focus on gender and women’s issues, and she has carried out many research studies, including Tradition and Transformation of Family Law among the Sasak Community in Lombok (2008), the Fulfillment of Female Constitutional Rights in Regional Policy in Aceh (2009), The Role of the Religious Affairs Office (KUA) in Overcoming the Practice of Divorce in Lombok (2011), Female Resistance: the Story Female Headed Households and the Dominance of Patriarchal Culture in Lombok (2012), the Contextualization of Hadith Marriage (2015), Student Council Policy in Denpasar City (2017), and Living a Hadith Marriage (2019).
In her capacity as Committee member of Aisyiyah (the women’s educational organisation within the national Islamic movement Muhammadiyah), Nikmatullah also participated in several international programs, including the Exchange Program on Religion and Society: Indonesia-USA Dialogue in the USA (2008), the Shortcourse on Gender, Sexuality, and Health at Mahidol University in Thailand (2009), the Australia Indonesia Muslim Exchange Program in Australia (2010), the International Human Rights Training Program in Canada (2011), the Shortcourse on Research Methodology at Leiden University in the Netherlands (2015), and the Partnership in Islamic Education Scholarship at the Australian National University (2017-2018).
Nikmatullah’s undergraduate studies focused on interpretation of the Hadith (statements of the Prophet) at Sunan Kalijaga Islamic State University in Yogyakarta. Both her Masters and PhD were completed at Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University in Jakarta. Her research interests focus on gender and women’s issues, and she has carried out many research studies, including Tradition and Transformation of Family Law among the Sasak Community in Lombok (2008), the Fulfillment of Female Constitutional Rights in Regional Policy in Aceh (2009), The Role of the Religious Affairs Office (KUA) in Overcoming the Practice of Divorce in Lombok (2011), Female Resistance: the Story Female Headed Households and the Dominance of Patriarchal Culture in Lombok (2012), the Contextualization of Hadith Marriage (2015), Student Council Policy in Denpasar City (2017), and Living a Hadith Marriage (2019).
Program Highlights
The AIMEP program is very good for increasing understanding between Indonesia and Australia, especially in relation to Muslim life, ethnic diversity, minority rights, and interfaith tolerance. When I visited Muslim communities in Australia, I saw a diversity of cultures and Islamic traditions, but they all seemed to work well together and respect each others’ differences. AIMEP has changed my view of minority religious rights in Australia. Muslims in Australia can be ‘good Australians’ as well as ‘good Muslims’. Participating in AIMEP has helped me to become a more tolerant person, and better appreciate diversity.
