THE ACADEMIC TRIP TO IKSIM, UIM & USIM

MISDEV15.2 (ISDEV Postgraduate by Mixed-Mode - batch 2015/2016 February Intake) students had successfully organised an academic trip to three re-knowned Islamic-based Development Institutions in Malaysia. They are the Institute for Strategic Studies Islam Malaysia (IKSIM), Universiti Islam Malaysia (UIM) as well as Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). 38 delegates from the Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV) consisting of ISDEV Director, Professor Dr. Muhammad Syukri Salleh, ISDEV lecturers as well as RISDEV (ISDEV Postgraduates by research) students joined in this trip that began on 24 April and ended on 26 April 2016. This trip also was part of the fulfilment of the coursework for SIW505-Epistemology and Islamic Tasawwur.

A session that involves the soul and mind  - tazkirah  (short spiritual reminder) after the congregational subh prayer
as a prelude to the day's activities.

The delegates departed from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) on the morning of the 24th and arrived at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) at 5.00 pm. Upon arrival, they were given the accommodation and all of them took the chance to relax and freshen up before continuing with the next day's activities.

Listening to the welcoming speech by IKSIM representative.

On the second day, ISDEV delegates began their visit to IKSIM and was greeted by IKSIM representative. Here, they were given some explanations on IKSIM as well as the chance to listen to the IKSIM representative on the current issues related to the challenges of the Malaysian ummah especially in Malaysia. They were not idly listening as ISDEV members' views and opinions were sought and welcomed to be shared throughout the session. 

Group photo of ISDEV delegates at UIM's Library.

The next activity continued with the visit to UIM located at Cyberjaya. The delegates were greeted by UIM President, Tan Sri Prof. Dr. Mohd Yusof Noor. In his simple welcoming speech, he told the delegates generally about UIM. According to him, UIM is the first university in Malaysia set up by the Conference of Rulers. It is a university founded through the activation of Kolej Islam Malaya (Malaya Islamic College) that was based on charitable funds and waqf, first introduced in 1955. The establishment of UIM is seen as a continuity to the traditions of charitable funds and waqf. UIM currently is offering short term courses in Islamic Studies and Islamic Banking. The delegates also had a chance to visit UIM’s library named CIMB Islamic- Primary Islamic Finance Library. They were told that all the materials available at that library are focused on Islamic Finance.

ISDEV lecturers with FKP's lecturers at USIM.

Visiting USIM become the last agenda of the academic trip. In USIM, ISDEV entourage was divided into two groups in which ISDEV lecturers and students were separated. ISDEV lecturers attended a discussion and meeting with the lecturers of the Faculty of Leadership and Management (or FKP) while ISDEV students, led by Dr. Azrin Ibrahim gathered with the students of FKP to have a two-way discussion. ISDEV representative took the opportunity to share with FKP students on what it entails to be a student of ISDEV. The same was done by the FKP representative. In the meantime, one of the FKP's postgraduate students took the opportunity to present his thesis proposal before both ISDEV and FKP students. A Question and Answer session was held immediately after the presentation. Comments and views were suggested to him on how he could further improve the thesis. 

The delegates left USIM to return to USM at 5.00 pm. All of them confessed to having had a good time throughout the trip as they had gained valuable experience and countless benefits that they could hold onto to help them through their life as a postgraduate student.