SHAHIR AKRAM HASSAN AL-HAFIZ SCORES "1" FOR HIS VIVA

 A fully composed Shahir Akram responding to the questions.

There are three RISDEV (ISDEV Postgraduate by Research) students whose viva have been slotted during the month of Ramadhan. 17 July 2014 saw the second viva session which took place at C06, School of Social Sciences Conference Room. It took a mere one hour for Ustaz Shahir Akram Hassan Al-Hafiz to defend his PhD Thesis. He was able to breathe a sigh of relief upon hearing the great good news that he had been awarded Grade "1" for his PhD Thesis.

 All in silence except the candidate - a picturesque of serene and tranquility during the viva session.

Alhamdulillah. Praise is indeed to Allah SWT as Shahir serves as the ninth candidate to be presented  with a Grade "1" for RISDEV (Postgraduate by Research) students in 2014. His research on 'Aplikasi Kaedah Penaakulan Mantik dalam Penyelidikan Berkaitan Islam' (Application of Logical Reasoning in Research Related to Islam) also received the nomination for the "Best PhD Thesis" award as were the other 8 RISDEV students before him.

 

 The roundup of the viva in session.

The viva started at 10.15 a.m. and the Board of Examiners took the opportunity to bombard Shahir with a variety of questions. The chairperson for the viva was Professor Dr. Merza Abbas from the Centre for Instructional Technology and Multimedia (PTPM). The external examiner was Associate Prof. Dr. Che Zarrina Binti Sa'ari from the Department of Akidah and Islamic Thought, Academy of Islamic Studies Universiti Malaya while his two internal examiners were Dr. Zakaria Bahari and Dr. Mohd Zaini Abu Bakar. His main supervisor Prof. Muhammad Syukri Salleh and co-supervisor, Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad were also present. Shahir was not the least discouraged by the questions and was able to defend his thesis superbly well. In fact it was all sweetness when Assoc. Prof. Dr. Che Zarrina admitted that she felt excited reading his PhD thesis as it was truly a page-turner.

His lovely wife, Nadiatun Nadhirah  (second from right) sitting astutely behind him 
giving her support to her husband.

What was made more special with the viva was the presence of Shahir's beloved wife Nadiatun Nadhirah Mohd Ridzowan who had undoubtedly provided her support, both physical and spiritual, throughout the viva session.

Congratulations Shahir Akram! It is hoped that his success reflects ISDEV as well as USM success and that of Islam too!