The Indonesian Young Leaders programme is a continuation of the intensive cooperation between the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs and Leiden University, which started in 1985 with INIS, Indonesian-Netherlands Cooperation in Islamic Studies. The Indonesian Young Leaders Programme is similar to the INIS programme as it also offers training and research in Leiden and at other Dutch Universities.

The Indonesian Young Leaders Programme is a scholarship programme – from 2006 until 2011 - which strives to enhance Indonesia’s future leadership by upgrading –present and future - human resources of institutions of higher Islamic education. The programme consist of two strongly linked and mutually reinforcing instruments: 1) International Conferences and 2) Education and training (Upgrading courses, MA and PhD).