The AIMEP Timeline
2002
AIMEP is inaugurated
September 2002
First group of Indonesian delegates travels to Australia, including Abdul Mu’ti, future National Secretary of Muhammadiyah
2004
AIMEP expanded to include first Australian delegation, including Bayram Aktepe, future President of the Islamic Council of Victoria
2005
2004 alumni Aziz and Rasheeda Cooper return to Indonesia to volunteer after 2004 Aceh Boxing Day Tsunami
2007
Indonesian national television crew from Liputan6 travel to Australia to cover AIMEP visit
First TV coverage of AIMEP visit to Australia
September 2008
Journalists from national television station TransTV and regional newspaper Jawa Pos travel to Australia to cover AIMEP visit
2009
First Indonesian delegate from Eastern Indonesia; Australian delegation includes first delegates from Darwin and Perth
2012
AIMEP celebrates 10-year anniversary
Australian government launches the Australia-Malaysia Young Muslim Exchange Program modelled on the Australia-Indonesia Muslim Exchange Program
2015
One of the first MEP alumni from 2002, Dr. Abdul Mu’ti, is elected General Secretary of Muhammadiyah, Indonesia’s second largest Islamic organisation.
2016
Australian AIMEP alumni reunions in Melbourne and Sydney
Australian and Indonesian alumni from Football United and the International Centre for Islam and Pluralism collaborate with Australian Embassy to run sports and well-being soccer workshops with female pesantren students across Indonesia
2017
AIMEP celebrates 15 year anniversary and launches Hidup Damai di Negeri Multikultur, a collection of over 70 alumni reflections. Indonesian AIMEP alumni hold book launches and writing seminars around the themes of peace and multiculturalism with undergraduate students in Jakarta and Makassar
AIMEP social media coverage reaches audience of over 5 million
Drawing on their experience with the AIMEP, Paramadina University partner with Goethe-Institut Indonesia to launch the Life of Muslims in Germany study tour
Indonesian AIMEP alumni contribute as authors to the compendium, Contemporary Islam in Indonesia and Australia
Indonesian AIMEP Alumni Forum formalised, bringing together over 100 actively engaged Indonesian alumni
AIMEP Alumni Forum launches first project, inviting Indonesian alumni to contribute to the edited volume, Muslim Millennial
2018
35 million audience reached through social media and national television