A 5 - DAY COMPACT TRIP

On 15th September 2014, a seven strong entourage from ISDEV consisted of five ISDEV lecturers, one RISDEV (ISDEV Postgraduate by Research) student and one ISDEV alumni student were flown to Indonesia to participate in “Konferensi International Pembangunan Islam – 1 (The First International Conference on Islamic Development) KIPI-1”

 

The seven-ISDEV entourage (from right): Dr Mohd Shukri Hanapi, Dr Shahir Akram Hassan, Dr Zakaria Bahari, Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh, Dr Mohd Syakir Mohd Rosdi, Br Zulkifli Muhammad, and Dr Razali Othman

With the theme on “Situasi Terkini Ekonomi Islam” (The Current Situation of Islamic Economics), the three-day conference was held at Auditorium Fakultas Kedoktoran, Universitas Jember, Indonesia (UNEJ). The conference is held in conjunction with the Islamic Economics and Development Week that was held to commemorate Universitas Jember's 50th anniversary.

An informal discussion with lecturers from Universitas Airlangga at Santika Hotel,Surabaya.

ISDEV delegates arrived in Surabaya, Indonesia on 15 September 2014 but before heading directly to Jember, the delegates had to make a breif stop over at Surabaya as the connecting flight to Jember was on the following day. However no time was idled away as ISDEV members took the opportunity to meet up with the lecturers from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) to discuss on a mutual research that could be embarked upon by both USM and UNAIR.

Courtesy call to the Rector of Universitas Jember Drs. Moh. Hasan (seated)

The next day, on 16 September 2014, ISDEV delegates arrived at Jember and immediately made a courtesy call to the Rector of Universitas Jember, Drs. Moh. Hasan and thereafter attended a Kuliah Umum (Public Lecturer) given by Achmad Buchori, Director of Research, Development, Regulation and Licensing Islamic Banking - Financial Services Authority (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan, OJK) from Jakarta.

A sharing session on the Malaysian experience by Dr. Zakaria Bahari

Front row seats - ISDEV members at the Public Lecture

In this public lecture, ISDEV representative, Dr Zakaria Bahari, was invited to share information and experience with participants pertaining to Islamic banking in Malaysia.

Hitting the kompang as a symbolic inauguration of the Islamic Economics and Develeopment Week of UNEJ. From the right Director of Research, Development, Regulation and Licensing Islamic Banking - Financial Services Authority, Achmad Buchori,  Bapak Bupati Jember M.Z.A Djalal, Rector UNEJ Drs.Moh.Hasan, and Prof. Syukri Salleh

After  the pubic lecture, the programme continued with the official opening ceremony of KIPI-1 which was held at night.The programme started with a dinner hosted by Jember Bupati M.Z.A. Djalal and followed by the hitting of the kompang  as a symbolic inauguration of the conference.

Sweet memories with the Dean of the Economics Faculty, Dr. M. Fathorrazi, Bapak Bupati Jember, M.Z.A Djalal (fourth from left who is wearing a songkok and is standing between Prof. Syukri and Dr Zakaria)
and UNEJ's Rector Drs.Moh.Hasan (second from left)

The next day of the program saw three ISDEV lecturers presenting their papers and Prof Muhammad Syukri Salleh delivering his keynote address on ‘Nine Deficiencies of Mainstream Islamic Economics” in front of participants consisting of economists throughout Indonesia and Malaysia.

All about the conference - (Top) Prof. Syukri delivering the Keynote Address and entertaining the barrage of questions posed by reporters after his speech. (Bottom)- Dr. Shukri and Dr. Zakaria present their papers

(Left)- Prof. Syukri with one of the conference moderators, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Agus Trihartono, Senior Reseracher, Ritsumeikan University, Japan/ Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Jember University and (Right)- a picture of all the participants of KIPI-1

Dr. Zakaria Bahari then took his turn to present is paper in the second session with the title  "Metodologi Penelitian Ekonomi Islam” (Research Methodology of Islamic Economics) followed by Dr. Mohd Shukri Hanapi who presented his paper in the third session with the title “Tasawur Ekonomi Islam" (Worldview of Islamic Economics).

The cover page of the book published to commemorate KIPI-1

Dr. Mohd Syakir Rosdi and Dr. Shahir Akram Hassan (ISDEV lecturers), Razali Othman (ISDEV alumni student), and Mohd  Zulkifli Muhammad (RISDEV student) who were part of the delegation from ISDEV did not present any papers in the conference. Nonetheless their papers were published in a book entitled Ekonomi Syari'ah Terkini - Perspektif, Metodologi and Praktik together with seven other ISDEV members. They are regarded as participants of "supplementary papers".

Appointment of Councilors of Ikatan Ahli Ekonomi Islam Besuki Raya ( Islamic Economist Association of Besuki Raya)

The third day of the conference which was on 18 September was the closing of the conference. To mark the conference's end a dinner gala was held at the Economics Faculty. After dinner the appointment of Ahli Dewan Perwakilan Wilayah Ikatan Ahli Ekonomi Islam Daerah Besuki Raya was also held.

A group photo with the lecturers of UNAIR

On 19 September, ISDEV delegates returned to Surabaya and within this time had another opportunity to meet up with the lecturers of UNAIR. Following the discussions held on 15 September 2014, both parties agreed to conduct research in areas such as Islamic Accounting, Islamic Government Budget, Zakat Management System as well as Non-Muslim Perception on Islamic Banking, and Islamic Financial Sector for Agriculture.

A mission accomplished - all smiles and feeling contented

Indeed, within the five-day visit, ISDEV members did not only merely attend the conference but is aptly described by the delegates as "Mission Accomplished" as it was not only packed with various activities and programme but also beneficial cooperation in research. Definitely closer bonds were fostered during this trip with the sole aim of strengthening Islam.