MEDAN 2011 MISSIONS ACCOMPLISHED

ISDEV fraternity on their arrival at the International Polonia Airport in Medan, Indonesia, on 11 March 2011, performing thankful prayer for their safe journey and stay

During the seven-days trip to Medan, from 11 to 17 March 2011, five targeted missions of 43 ISDEV fraternity were accomplished. The missions were firstly, the signing of Memorandum of Cooperation between ISDEV and Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU); secondly, the International Seminar on the Islamic Management Applications; thirdly, the intellectual expedition to Lake Toba and Samosir Island; fourthly, the launching of Journal of Islamic Development Politics (JISDEV); and fifthly, the 4th International Workshop on Islamic-Based Development (WAPI4).

Signing of Memorandum of Cooperation by Director of ISDEV Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh and Rector of UMSU Drs Agussani M.AP. For the last four years, ISDEV and UMSU have been cooperating annually in various activities, especially in the organisations of international conferences, public academic lectures, pursuance of graduate studies and appointment of Visiting Professorship.

ISDEV fraternity at the International Seminar on Islamic Management Applications, 12 March 2011. In this Seminar, ISDEV Director Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh, ISDEV Deputy Director Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad, and ISDEV Management Committee Member Dr Zakaria Bahari presented their respective papers related to Islamic management. Other presenters were Affandy of UMSU, Delyuzar Syamsi of Bank Muamalat Jakarta, and Professor H.M.S. Idrus of the University of Brawijaya, Malang.

Parts of the participants of the Seminar

A dinner hosted by ISDEV PhD candidate in Medan, Ali Mukti. It seems to be a tradition that lunches and dinners were hosted by members of ISDEV Graduate Students Association in Medan. Amongst them this time were Hasrita, followed by Datuk Chairil Anwar, Azuar, Heri Kusmanto, Kasyful Mahalli, and Suhrawardi Lubis.

As usual, listening to tazkirah after fajr congregational prayer at Royal Perintis Hotel, ISDEV accommodation in Medan.

ISDEV Alumni Dr Sukiman of Medan Institut Agama Islam Negeri (IAIN) delivering a lecture in the bus, during the journey to Lake Toba, Prapat. Dr Sukiman has just completed a draft of his book entitled Islamic Education Model - A Learning Experience at ISDEV, Universiti Sains Malaysia, expected to be published this year.

An ad hoc `nashid concert' by Anwar Rosli (left) and Mohd Syakir (right) after a dinner at Wisma Wisata Bahari, where ISDEV fraternity stayed in Prapat. Also presenting religious songs/poems at this `concert' were Dr Sukiman, Datuk Chairil Anwar, Ridzuan and Muhammad Taha Omar.

ISDEV PhD candidate from Aceh, Ridzuan, presenting a song entitled Tuhan (God), in the bus during the journey back to Medan from Lake Toba.

The Journal of Islamic Development Politics (JISDEV) that has been launched by ISDEV Director Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh at the 4th International Workshop on Islamic-Based Development (WAPI4) on 15 March 2011. JISDEV is co-published by ISDEV, the Graduate Programme of Universitas Medan Area and the Centre for Islamic Political Development (CISDEV) of Universitas Sumatera Utara. Potential contributors and interested subscribers could get in touch with its Editor-in-Chiefs, Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad at suekainah@yahoo.com or Heri Kusmanto at heri.kusmanto@gmail.com or with its Executive Editor Warjio at mywarjio@yahoo.com

Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh, Dr Zakaria Bahari and Dr Zahri Hamat at the 4th International Workshop on Islamic-Based Development (WAPI4). In this Workshop, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh delivered a keynote address on The Direction of Islamic-Based Development: Strengthening Islamic or Conventional Systems, while all other ISDEV fraternity presented their papers, based on their research for Master or Doctoral degrees, totalling nearly 40 papers altogether