A NAS A WEEK - 29 RAMADHAN 1429H

So set thou thy face steadily and truly to the Faith: (establish) Allah's handiwork according to the pattern on which He has made mankind (fitrah): no change (let there be) in the work (wrought) by Allah: that is the standard Religion: but most among mankind understand not [ar-Ruum, 30: 30].

HAPPY EID MUBARAK

ISDEV NEWS on behalf of all ISDEV members, wishing all Muslims throughout the world a happy Eid-ul-Fitri. May Allah s.w.t. accepts our endeavours in seeking His pleasures during this Ramadhan, hence qualifying us to celebrate this Eid-ul-Fitri in a real sense.

IFTAR AT ISDEV, 12 SEPTEMBER 2008

On 12 September 2008, ISDEV organised an iftar evening, an occasion held every Ramadhan since the outset of the establishment of ISDEV. About 50 participants consisting of ISDEV Management Committee Members, ISDEV Fellows, ISDEV Post-Doctoral Fellow, ISDEV Research Associates, ISDEV Research Officers, ISDEV supporting staff, Islamic Development Management graduate students, School of Social Sciences staff and their wives and children gathered at Interactive Hall, School of Social Sciences to break their fast together. Tarawih prayer was also held after the breaking of the fast.

A NAS A WEEK - 22 RAMADHAN 1429H

Narrated Aisha: "With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers" [Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Book No. 32: 'Praying at Night in Ramadhaan, Hadith No. 241].

A NAS A WEEK - 15 RAMADHAN 1429

The Night of Power (Lailatul Qadr) is better than a thousand months [al-Qadr, 97: 3].

USM HEADING FOR THE PEAK - APEX UNIVERSITY

The Star
Sunday September 7, 2008

HEADING FOR THE PEAK

BY Karen Chapman and Simrit Kaur

After much speculation, the country’s first apex university was finally named this week.

ALTHOUGH there have been other ratings and rankings exercises, the one that really mattered was the accelerated programme for excellence (apex). The country’s four research universities were the frontrunners and it was no surprise when all four made the short list. However, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) was the sole institution selected.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that the university with apex status has the greatest potential among Malaysian universities to be of world-class standard.
In last year’s Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings, Universiti Malaya (UM) was the highest ranked Malaysian university at 246, followed by USM (307), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (309) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (364).
Mohamed Khaled says quantitative and qualitative criteria were used to select USM, and that that the selection committee evaluated each university’s state of readiness, transformation plan and preparedness for change.
“After a thorough evaluation, the committee decided that only one university truly met all the criteria, namely USM,’’ he says, adding that the Cabinet had agreed to USM being given the apex status on Aug 27.
The ministry’s Programme Management Office (PMO) chief executive officer, Prof Datuk Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar, says the decision does not mean that USM has achieved the status, only that the university has the most potential to achieve it.
“This whole apex programme has been my ‘baby’ as I am very concerned that many of our top students go overseas and often do not return to serve at home,” he shares.
Having an apex university, he adds, means that at least some of the nation’s best minds will be retained locally. The apex forms one of the important initiatives under the National Higher Education Strategic Plan launched by the Prime Minister last year.
According to the action plan, which was released at the same time, apex universities will be given the autonomy to put in place the best in terms of leaders, faculty, students and facilities.
Since a large sum of money will be poured into ensuring USM attains greater heights, it is only fair that the public understands how it was selected.
Selection committee chairman Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamad Zawawi Ismail says universities — both public and private — were invited to submit their proposals.
Nine institutions namely UM, UKM, UPM, USM, International Islamic University Malaysia, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Petronas and Universiti Tenaga Nasional eventually did so.
Dr Mohamad Zawawi, who is former Universiti Malaysia Sarawak vice-chancellor, says the committee paid special attention to the institutions’ strategic intent and transformation plans.
Once UM, UKM, UPM and USM were short-listed, visits were made to the institutions where discussions were held with senior staff, academics, students and staff associations to understand the prevailing campus “climate” and factors related to the proposed plans.
“Apex is about accelerated change. It is not about business as usual but business unusual. We seek new and exciting ideas,” says Dr Mohamad Zawawi.
But that was not all. Prof Sahol Hamid says the committee also looked at actual world class university initiatives from other countries such as Germany and China.
Eventually it was modelled on the German Universities Excellence Initiative. Two German experts were in the country to assist the apex selection committee.
USM vice-chancellor Prof Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, adds that the validation exercise, particularly the on-site visits, is what makes the apex evaluation distinct from other surveys, including the ones done by Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings (which don’t make on-site visits).
“It gives the apex more credibility and reliability this way.”
At the same time, Prof Dzulkifli emphasises that USM has been working on its own transformation plan, which was put in place over the last six years, based on future demands.
“We started with the ‘healthy campus’ concept before moving on to the ‘university in a garden’ concept. We subsequently adopted the ‘research university’ concept.
“These then snowballed into a transformation plan that matched what the government was looking for when it announced that universities were invited to send in proposals for apex status,” he says.
USM’s plan is named Transforming Higher Education for a Sustainable Tomorrow.
In terms of funding, Prof Dzulkifli says USM has requested for an additional RM830mil over the next five years (from 2009 to 2013) to transform into an apex university.
Former USM senior academic administrator Datuk Sharom Ahmat believes the university can meet the challenge of transforming into an apex university if it works towards it.
“No one university in the country is able to meet all the conditions of what an apex university must contain at the moment,” he says, referring to the key elements of best leaders, faculty, students and facilities as stated in the action plan.
Many were surprised by Mohamed Khaled’s announcement as they believed that by virtue of its history, status and higher ranking, UM would be the natural choice.
UM was the only public higher education institution to obtain a five-star rating in the Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education Institutions 2007.
Transparency International Malaysia president Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, who is a UM alumnus, expressed disappointment that the university did not get the apex status.
“I cannot understand where UM fell short in terms of quality and standards. As one of the thousands of graduates, we would be appreciative of some more transparency and accountability in the assessment process,” he adds.
When asked why UM was not selected, Mohamed Khaled, a UM graduate himself had said: “It’s not about selecting the oldest university but choosing one with a doable plan that can help us transform our higher education.” Dr Mohamad Zawawi, however, believes the committee has made the “right choice” although those universities not chosen may be unhappy.
UKM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin believes USM deserved to be selected for apex status.
“I know they have been seriously working on their plan for a number of years, including doing scenario planning. They are ready for change. Together with a committed and stable leadership and a good team, I am sure they will carry it through,” she says.
On the next step, Mohamed Khaled, says USM needs to draw up a roadmap for transformation with a performance assessment index.
“It also needs to set several goals to achieve in the next five years,” he says.
Prof Dzulkifli adds that USM will seek to establish cutting edge research and development facilities next year. “This will potentially quantum leap the performance and visibility of USM as a new global player,” he adds.
What others say:

Prof Datuk Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan ShahabudinUKM vice-chancellor: As for UKM, we will continue to execute the plans we have put in place. We realise change is not easy and this is something we need to cultivate. We will persevere towards our goals and show results despite the odds.
Prof Datuk Dr Nik Mustapha Raja AbdullahUPM vice-chancellor:I would like to congratulate USM for being chosen as an apex university. We at UPM will continue to follow closely our transformation plan to achieve excellence as well as generate wealth through the new agricultural industry. Congratulations to USM. I wish them the best of luck.

Datuk Rafiah SalimUM vice-chancellor: Based on our track record of transforming UM into the top-ranked local university within two years, we are disappointed not to be chosen. We will continue with our transformation plan, with or without apex status.

Apex university selection committee members:
1. Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamad Zawawi Ismail (chairman)
2. Tan Sri Dr Wan Zahid Mohd Noordin
3. Tan Sri Dr Abu Hassan Othman
4. Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Gajaraj Dhanarajan
5. Datuk Dr Ahmad Zaidee Laidin
6. Datuk Zarinah Anwar
7. Prof Emeritus Datuk K J Ratnam
8. Dr Hena Mukherjee
9. Abdullah Abd Hamid
10. Dr Parmjit Singh
11. Prof Abang Abdullah Abang Ali
12. Prof Dr Azman Awang
13. Dr Sabine Behrenbeck (Germany)
14. Dr Inka Spang-Grau (Germany)
15. Higher Education Department director-general
16. Polytechnic and Community College Department director-general
17. Malaysian Qualifications Agency chief executive officer
18. National Higher Education Fund Corporation chief executive.
19. Planning and Research Division secretary

USM GETS APEX STATUS

The Star
Thursday September 4, 2008

USM GETS APEX STATUS
By Simrit Kaur and Karen Chapman

PUTRAJAYA: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has been granted apex status. With it, USM can expect hundreds of millions of ringgit in additional funding to transform it into Malaysia's first world-class university.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that quantitative and qualitative criteria were used to select USM under the accelerated programme for excellence (apex).

Announcement time: Khaled flanked by deputies Dr Hou Kok Chung (right) and Datuk Idris Haron with a copy of the statement announcing USM as the country's first apex university.
“The selection committee evaluated each university's state of readiness, transformation plan and preparedness for change.

“After a thorough evaluation, the committee decided that only one university truly met all the criteria, namely USM,'' he told a press conference yesterday.

The Cabinet had agreed to USM being given the apex status on Aug 27.
The university that is given apex status is one that has the greatest potential among Malaysian universities to be world-class, and as such, would be given additional assistance to compete with top-ranked global institutions, added Khaled.
He said with apex status, USM will be expected to move up the World University Rankings with a target of top 200 in five years' and top 100, if not top 50, by 2020.
In last year’s Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings, Universiti Malaya (UM) was the highest ranked Malaysian university at 246, followed by USM (307), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (309) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (364).
A selection committee headed by former Universiti Malaysia Sarawak vice-chancellor Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamad Zawawi Ismail short-listed USM, UM, UKM and UPM.
USM's transformation plan, entitled “Transforming Higher Education for a Sustainable Tomorrow” focussed, among other things, on diagnostics, medical biotechnology, waste management, pharmaceuticals, nano-technology, membrane technology and vaccines.
Asked why UM was not selected, Khaled said: “I hope the apex status will spur other universities to strive for excellence, too. It's not about selecting the oldest university but choosing one with a doable plan that can help us transform our higher education.”
The other universities that applied for apex status were International Islamic University Malaysia, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Petronas and Universiti Tenaga Nasional.

A NAS A WEEK - 8 RAMADHAN 1429H

Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet salallahu 'alaihi wassalam said, "Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven" [Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Book No. 31: Fasting, Hadith No. 125].

IFTAR AT ISDEV

In conjunction with the fasting month of Ramadhan, ISDEV is organising an iftar (breaking of fast) evening on Friday, 12 September 2008. Prior to that, in the morning, there will be a Monthly Graduate Supervision for the month of September.

A NAS A WEEK - 1 RAMADHAN 1429H

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint [al-Baqarah, 2: 183].

FADZILA AZNI AHMAD PASSED HER PHD WITH FLYING COLOURS

In her PhD defense held today, Thursday 28 August 2008 at 3.00 pm, the Board of Examiners had given a pass with flying colours to Fadzila Azni Ahmad (pic). The first external examiner had given her an excellent pass, with a scale of 1 (pass without correction) while another external examiner and internal examiner gave her a pass with a scale of 2 (pass with minor correction). Both external examiners suggested that Fadzila Azni Ahmad been given an excellent award for her well-researched and well-written thesis.

The Board of Examiners was chaired by Professor Dato' Abu Talib Ahmad (Dean of the School of Humanities, USM). External examiners were Professor Joni Tamkin Borhan (Universiti Malaya) and Professor Abdullah @ Alwi Haji Hassan (International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), International Islamic University Malaysia), while internal examiner was Dr Lilis Surienty binti Abd Talib (School of Management, USM). Also in the Board were Fadzila Azni's main and co-supervisor, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh and Dr Suhaiza Hanim Zailani respectively.

The title of Fadzila Azni's thesis was Management Methods of Islamic Development Institutions in Malaysia. She will be officially awarded with a PhD degree after submitting three final copies of her thesis (with minor corrections as suggested by the examiners).

Congratulation and welcome aboard, Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad!

PHD DEFENSE BY FADZILA AZNI AHMAD POSTPONED TO THURSDAY 28 AUGUST 2008

Due to the public holiday in Penang on Tuesday 26 August 2008 as announced by the State Government of Penang (in conjunction with the by-election in Permatang Pauh), PhD defense (viva) by Fadzila Azni Ahmad has been postponed to 3.00 pm on Thursday 28 August 2008. The venue remains at the Mandela Viva Room of Institute of Graduate Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia.

A NAS A WEEK - 23 SHA'BAN 1429H

Narrated Sahl bin Sad: The Prophet said, "A single endeavor in Allah's Cause in the afternoon and in the forenoon is better than the world and whatever is in it." [Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Book No. 52: 'Fighting for the Cause of Allah (Jihaad)', Hadith No. 51]

A NAS A WEEK - 16 SHA'BAN 1429H

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. The Believers must (eventually) win through. [al-Mu'minuun, 23:1]

A NAS A WEEK - 10 SHA'BAN 1429

Narrated Abu Umamah: The Prophet (salallahu 'alaihi wassalam) said: Those who are nearest to Allah are they who are first to give a salutation. [Hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud, Book No. 41: General Behaviour (Kitab al-Adab), Hadith No. 5178]

AGE NO BARRIER FOR COUPLE - THE STAR, 5 AUGUST 2008

AGE NO BARRIER FOR COUPLE

By Ann Tan

RETIRED teacher Ismail Shafiee, 68, does not intend to stay idle during his retirement years and has taken up the challenge of a master’s degree at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

“My wife Salmiah Mohamad and I do not want to stay at home, watching television and waiting to die,” he quipped when asked why he was continuing his studies at his age.

The couple, who enrolled for a master’s degree in Islamic development management, were among 1,566 postgraduate students taking their oaths at USM’s Dewan Tunku Syed Putra on Saturday.

The couple obtained their first degrees in social science last year. Ismail said he did not enter university when he was young because his priority then was for his children to study until university level. “Now that all my seven children are university graduates, I have finished my ‘family agenda’ and it’s time to pursue my own dream,” he said.

Salmiah, 64, also a retired teacher, said age should not be a barrier for them since getting knowledge is a lifelong process. “When I was young, I was offered a place at university but it was too far from my home so I did not go,” Salmiah said. “When I was in my 30s, I applied to study at USM twice but failed to get in. Then about four years ago, when USM offered a senior citizens’ lifelong learning programme, we decided to apply.

“We also hope to be an inspiration for the young who stopped after their first degree,” she said. Asked whether they had problems following the classes and communicating with their younger course-mates, they said their experience in the education field helped a lot and they could cope with the pressure. However, Ismail said initially they had problems memorising the notes. They also admitted that they were not so skilful in using computers.

USM vice-chancellor Professor Tan Sri Datuk Dzulkifli Abdul Razak said the university was targeting to take in 10,000 postgraduate students by 2010.“We are also aiming to be recognised as an Accelerated Programme for Excellence (APEX) university, which will take this university to a higher level challenge in the global arena,” he said.Dzulkifli said the university was giving incentives for master’s and PhD students who excelled academically.“The university will give them a monthly allowance of RM1,500 to RM3,000 based on their academic performance,” he said (The Star, 5 Ogos 2008, Ms M4, Events)

PREPARING FADZILA AZNI FOR PHD DEFENSE

ISDEV will be preparing its Management Committee Member Fadzila Azni Ahmad (right) for her PhD defense through a mock viva to be held on Friday 15 August 2008. The Chairman of the mock viva will be ISDEV Director Professor Dr Muhammad Syukri Salleh while Dr Mohd Zaini Abu Bakar and Dr Zahri Hamat will act as "examiners". The title of her PhD thesis is "Management Methods of Islamic Development Institutions in Malaysia".

Such a mock viva is a normal practice at ISDEV aimed to familiarise graduate students supervised by ISDEV members with viva atmosphere and prepare them with all sorts of answers to questions that may be asked by the real examiners in the real viva.

The real defense is expected to be held on 26 August 2008 at 9.30 am at Institute of Graduate Studies.

A NAS A WEEK - 3 SHA'BAN 1429

They said: "Glory to Thee: of knowledge we have none, save what Thou hast taught us: in truth it is Thou Who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom." [al-Baqarah, 2: 32]

MARLINA EKAWATY - OUR NEW PHD CANDIDATE

Islamic Development Management Programme (PPI) has another new graduate student, Marlina Ekawaty (left) - a lecturer from Universitas Briwajaya, Malang, Indonesia. She has registered recently as a PhD candidate to work on a research tentatively entitled "Optimizing of Zakat to Increase Public Prosperity". She will be working with Dr Zahri Hamat and Associate Professor Dr Abdul Fatah Che Hamat.

A NAS A WEEK - 25 RAJAB 1429H

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Said ibn al-Musayyab from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A strong person is not the person who throws his adversaries to the ground. A strong person is the person who contains himself when he is angry" [Hadith from Malik's Muwatta', Book No. 47: Good Character, Hadith No. 47.3.12]