THE INDUSTRIOUS & ILLUSTRIOUS ISDEV FELLOWS

Based on the wide networking garnered from the ISDEV Research University Team Grant (ISDEV-RUT) which is further catapulted by the recent 5th Workshop on ISDEV-RUT: Islamic Based Development held on 2 - 4 March, 2015, ISDEV is pleased to highlight that most of the appointed ISDEV Associate Fellows as well as ISDEV Honorary Fellows are currently busy initiating further research endeavors in collaboration with ISDEV.

YB Senator Dato' Dr. Ashraf Wajdi Dato' Dusuki -  One of ISDEV Honorary Fellows.

Among them is ISDEV Honorary Fellow, YB Senator Dato' Dr. Ashraf Wajdi Dato' Dusuki, the Yang Dipertua of Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM). YB Senator Dato' is currently initiating collaborative research between YADIM-ISDEV on Teens Perception Against Current Issues in Malaysia. The formalities of appointments have already been made on both sides pending the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) by both institutions.

Centre - Dr. Haji Norarfan Haji Zainal, Rector of Universiti Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Brunei Darussalam.

Meanwhile, ISDEV Associate Fellow from Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) Brunei Darussalam, Dr. Haji Norarfan Haji Zainal (who is also the Rector of UNISSA) has approved three UNISSA - ISDEV research collaborations related to Negara Zikir, Quality Management, and Istibdal Endowments. These three projects are in progress. The first stage of the findings had already been presented during the 5th Workshop on ISDEV-RUT recently. Two further research collaborations related to Debt Culture and Brunei Vision 2035 Revisited are in the pipeline.

Prof. Syukri facilitating a Research Training Workshop at Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Brunei Darussalam.

Another ISDEV Associate Fellow, Tn Hj Rafee from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) was instrumental in organizing a Public Lecture delivered by ISDEV Director, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh at UBD. Prof. Syukri gave a talk on "Implikasi Gagasan Negara Zikir Terhadap Strategi Pembangunan Negara Brunei Darussalam" (Implications of the Notion on Dzikir Nation to the Development Strategies of Negara Brunei Darussalam) during one of Prof. Syukri's visit to Brunei Darussalam recently.

Yet another of ISDEV Associate Fellow, this time from Indonesia, Dr. Atih Rohaerti Dariah from Universitas Islam Bandung (UNISBA) had also taken the opportunity during Prof. Syukri's recent visit to Bandung to convey a Public Lecture on "Posisi Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam" (Islamic-based Development Positions) in UNISBA. With the research collaborations between ISDEV-UNISBA sealed at the end of last year, Dr.Atih, with the cooperation of ISDEV, organised a short training course on Islamic Development Economics in Bandung in with Prof. Syukri and Dr. Zakaria as the main trainers.

ISDEV leaderships at Islamic Development Economics, Bandung, Indonesia. Dr Atih Rohaerti Dariah is the third from the right.

Currently, Dr. Atih is involved with a research on The Index of Islamic-Based Development Actors and is planning to apply for another grant focused on Local Islamic Wisdom for Sustainable Development. In addition, there is also the ISDEV-UNISBA research collaboration under the leadership of Dr. Atih on Sustainable Development From Islamic Perspective financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) which is completed.

In the meantime, Dr Warjio of Universitas Muhammadiyyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) and Dr. Heri Kusmanto of Universitas Medan Area (UMA), both from Medan, are busy making preparations to organize a conference on Sustainable Development. ISDEV Director and Deputy Director, Dr Zakaria Bahari, have received invitations to be the main speakers.

 (R)- Dr. Nor Asmat Ismail from Universiti Sains Malaysia and (L)- Associate Professor Dr. Ahmad Azrin Adnan from Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin.

ISDEV Associate Fellow from Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) Terengganu, Associate Professor Dr. Ahmad Azrin Adnan did not miss the boat to catch the wave of research euphoria here at ISDEV. He has taken the initiative to gather potential members in UniSZA to establish collaborative activities between ISDEV-UniSZA. He had also come out with the idea on collaborative research proposals between ISDEV-UNISSA on Debt Culture in Brunei Darussalam. He will carry out this proposal with his research partner, who is also an ISDEV Associate Fellow, Dr. Nor Asmat Ismail from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

With the hard work of all researchers, it is hoped that all these researches are conducted successfully and the findings of such studies can contribute substantially to various parties such as the state, nation, the public at large and of course to Islam in particular. ISDEV is indeed honoured and blessed to have diligent ISDEV Fellows who are committed in their cause for Islam through these various research undertakings.