Universitas Cordova

Universitas Cordova (UNDOVA) is a private higher education institution located in Taliwang, West Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. It was declared established by the leadership of the Yayasan Wakaf Pondok Pesantren Al-Ikhlas Taliwang on 10 Dzulhijjah 1424 H, corresponding to 1 February 2004. The university operates under the guidance and supervision of Lembaga Layanan Pendidikan Tinggi (LLDikti) Region VIII and received its institutional operating permit through Decree of the Minister of National Education of the Republic of Indonesia No. 78/D/O/2009 dated 17 June 2009. It has obtained accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN-PT) with a "Baik" (Good) rating based on BAN-PT Decree No. 265/SK/BAN-PT/Akred/PT/III/2021. The university was founded with support from the regional government, the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD), and private companies operating in West Sumbawa Regency. It also maintains cooperation with several public and private universities in Indonesia. Its establishment is closely tied to the Al-Ikhlas Islamic boarding school (pesantren) in Taliwang, whose foundation holds the deed of establishment. The name "Cordova" references the historical Islamic University of Cordova in Spain, which the university's founders present as a symbol of past Islamic intellectual achievement and a source of inspiration for contemporary education. UNDOVA's identity is expressed through its emblem, which features an eight-pointed star surrounded by golden yellow, with the colors red, green, and white representing the flag used by Pondok Modern Gontor and its alumni pesantren across Indonesia. A triangle containing the Arabic word "Ahad" (One) reflects the tauhid (oneness of God) central to the Al-Ikhlas pesantren. The university positions itself as part of the Gontor educational tradition and aims to produce human resources with strong faith and high science and technology capabilities for West Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, and the international community.

Universitas Cordova (UNDOVA) was declared established by the leadership of the Yayasan Wakaf Pondok Pesantren Al-Ikhlas Taliwang, acting on the mandate of the foundation's notarial deed No. 12 of 2000. The declaration took place on 10 Dzulhijjah 1424 H, corresponding to 1 February 2004, in Taliwang, West Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province. The founding was supported by the regional government, the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD), and private companies operating in West Sumbawa Regency, which expressed their willingness to support the construction and operation of the university. Support also came from several public and private universities in Indonesia through inter-university cooperation agreements. The university is located in Taliwang and operates as a private higher education institution under the guidance and supervision of Lembaga Layanan Pendidikan Tinggi (LLDikti) Region VIII. Its establishment permit and study program operations are based on Decree of the Minister of National Education of the Republic of Indonesia No. 78/D/O/2009 dated 17 June 2009. Institutionally, UNDOVA has obtained accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN-PT) with a "Baik" (Good) rating according to BAN-PT Decree No. 265/SK/BAN-PT/Akred/PT/III/2021. The name "Cordova" is deliberately chosen to evoke the historical Islamic University of Cordova in Spain. According to the university's own account, in 711 CE, during the Umayyad Dynasty under Caliph Al-Walid I, the governor of North Africa, Musa bin Nusair, ordered Thariq bin Ziad to open Spain. After landing on the southern coast, Thariq bin Ziad burned his ships to prevent retreat, and the Muslim forces went on to defeat the Spanish army and enter Toledo, Seville, Malaga, and Cordova. When the Abbasid Dynasty moved the Islamic capital from Damascus to Baghdad in 750 CE, the Umayyads retained power in Spain and moved their capital from Toledo to Cordova. Cordova reached its zenith under Abdurrahman III (912–961 CE) and Al-Hakam II (961–976 CE), becoming one of the two lights of the world alongside Baghdad, a center of scientific and technological advancement with a higher education institution known as the University of Cordova. During Al-Hakam II's reign, 27 private schools were established in Cordova, along with 70 libraries and many bookshops; in the eastern part of the city, 170 women worked as writers of the Quran in beautiful Kufic script, and there were 80 free schools for poor children. UNDOVA's founders present this historical legacy as inspiration for the university's managers and academic community in providing higher education services to society. UNDOVA's identity is further expressed through its emblem. The emblem features an eight-pointed star with the colors of the red-green-white flag surrounded by golden yellow, with the Arabic word "Ahad" in the center and "UNIVERSITAS CORDOVA" written below. The eight-pointed star is explained as the main symbol of the Islamic ummah as decided by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), symbolizing the universality of Islam and balance. The golden yellow surrounding the star represents the noble aspiration to regain past Islamic glory. The red-green-white flag is that used by Pondok Modern Gontor and its alumni pesantren across Indonesia, symbolizing UNDOVA's place in the Gontor tradition of Islamic struggle through education. The triangle with "Ahad" is the main logo of Pondok Pesantren Al-Ikhlas Taliwang, expressing tauhid (the oneness of God) as stated in Surah Al-Ikhlas, and the triangle symbolizes the integration of education: faith, knowledge, and practice; iman, islam, and ihsan; and the Tri Dharma of higher education (education, research, and community service).

• 2021

  UNDOVA received institutional accreditation with a "Baik" (Good) rating from BAN-PT under Decree No. 265/SK/BAN-PT/Akred/PT/III/2021.

• 2009

  The university received its establishment and study program permit through Minister of National Education Decree No. 78/D/O/2009 dated 17 June 2009.

• 2004

  Universitas Cordova was declared established on 10 Dzulhijjah 1424 H (1 February 2004) in Taliwang, West Sumbawa.

• 2000

  Notarial deed No. 12 of 2000 established the Yayasan Wakaf Pondok Pesantren Al-Ikhlas Taliwang, which later founded UNDOVA.

A private Islamic university in West Sumbawa inspired by the historical University of Cordova, emphasizing faith and science and technology.

• Undergraduate degree programs

  Bachelor-level study programs offered across faculties.

• Diploma programs

  Vocational and diploma-level programs.

1. 1Universitas Cordova - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Universitas Cordova - Wikipedia Indonesiaid.wikipedia.org
3. 3Universitas Cordova official websiteundova.ac.id