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.

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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.

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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]

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

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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.

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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]