The Partnership in Islamic Education Scheme (PIES) program and its predecessors brought selected participants from the Indonesian higher education sector to the Australian National University for two semesters of study and skills training between 2004 and 2019. Records include a history of the establishment of the scheme by Emeritus Professor Virginia Hooker, early grant proposals, funding agreements, applications from successful cohorts of participants, evaluation and completion reports, books published by each cohort, copy of the PIES website, and administrative records.

The program was an initiative of Professor Virginia Hooker who worked with Professor Merle Ricklefs to develop the Partnership in Education and Training of Regional Islamic Institutions (PETRII) scheme, known as the ‘sandwich’ program. Funded by AusAID, the scheme ran from 2004-2006. It was followed by PIES which operated under the umbrella of the Australia-Indonesia Institute in collaboration with the Directorate of Higher Islamic Education and Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA), with funding from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. PETRII and PIES were developed to provide opportunities for higher education teachers and academics to undertake overseas study, advance or complete their Indonesian degrees and build academic networks. The initial PIES program ran over two semesters 2008-2009 with Professor Hooker as Director. PIES II, PIES III and PIES IV operated under the Directorship of Associate Professor Greg Fealy with Dr Sally White continuing as academic mentor. A grant application for PIES V to operate from 2020, was unsuccessful and the scheme closed in 2021 with a final farewell event held on 8 September 2021 via zoom teleconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.