EVOLVEMENT OF TIME AND AGE

How fast time, hence eras of one's life, has passed by.

My staff cards above are self-explanatory. They began with a long-haired just-registered young lecturer in 1981, followed by religiously-conscious don (1983-1994), and finally retired matured slave of Allah SWT in 2014.

Though trying to continously serve the University, the status is now no more permanent. It is instead on a three-year contract basis (2014-2017). What will happen next is full of uncertainty. Only Allah SWT knows best, but the service to Islam and the ummah, with the help of Allah SWT, should not have been ceased with this uncertainty.

The elder dons with thick spectacles, and sometimes helped with magnifiers and sticks, reading in the 'haunted' Bodlein Library of the Oxford University always remind me of how knowledge is oceanic, and one should not have stopped in digging and disseminating them.

ISDEV RUT WORKSHOP IS IN PROGRESS

Since yesterday Monday 2 March, a total of 40 ISDEV Researchers and Associate Researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), Universitas Medan Area (UMA), Universitas Islam Bandung (UNIBAS), and Islamic University Sultan of Sharif Ali (UNISSA, Brunei Darussalam, have gathered at the Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV) to present their respective research findings.

In this Workshop, a total of 38 papers have been prepared out of their findings from their respective researches. The research clusters include Istibdal Wakaf, Ethics and Monitoring System of Human Management, Quality Management of Islamic Development Institutions, Corporate Social Responsibility, the Politics of Islamic-Based Development, and the Policies of Islamic-Based Development in the Context of Negara Zikir in Brunei Darussalam.

The Workshop will end tomorrow, Tuesday 4 March 2015.

IDMAC 2014 - CHANGE OF DATE

Due to unavoidable circumstances, the date of the 8th ISDEV International Conference on Islamic Development Management (IDMAC 2014) themed Islamic Political Economy previously scheduled on 2nd-3rd December 2014 is now changed to 9th-10th December 2014. Venue and time remain.

ISDEV apologizes for any inconveniences that this change of date may cause.

CALL FOR PAPERS FOR IDMAC 2014 - ISLAMIC POLITICAL ECONOMY

The Call for Papers for the 8th ISDEV International Conference on Islamic Development Management (IDMAC 2014) is now out. IDMAC is an ISDEV annual researched-Conference. Alhamdulillah, it is now going into its 8th year this year.

The IDMAC's theme for this year is Islamic Political Economy, a relatively new discipline that ISDEV wishes to enhance.

In this year's IDMAC, ISDEV hopes to provide a platform for a meeting of minds to further develop this discipline. This is in line with a course named Islamic Political Economy offered by ISDEV for its Master Mixed Mode (MISDEV) students and a research on The Politics of Islamic Development Strategies being undertaken by ISDEV at the moment.

For further details, see http://idmac2014.blogspot.com/ 

EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF TERENGGANU ISLAMIC AND MALAY CUSTOMS COUNCIL(MAIDAM)

I feel honoured to have been appointed by Islamic and Malay Custom Council of the State of Terengganu (MAIDAM) as one of the Founders and Directors in the Board of Directors of MAIDAM Education Foundation, since February this year.

This is another opportunity to contribute to my own State, after previously participated in the State's academic activities via Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) as a Visiting Professor of the Faculty of Economics and Business Management and Honorary Fellow of the Research Institute of Islamic Products and Civilization (INSPIRE), and in development via KETENGAH, Office of Chief Minister, State's Economic Planning Unit and Terengganu Development Institute in dealing with the formulation and realisation of strategic plans known as Wawasan SIHAT and Islam Hadhari Terengganu Bestari.

The first meeting of the Founders and Directors of the Foundation's Board of Directors was held at Grand Dorsett Hotel in Subang Jaya on Friday, 10 October 2014.

APEX LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

On Thursday 9 October 2014, I was together with other USM Heads of Departments at Bukit Merah Lake Resort to participate in APEX Leadership Programme organised by USM Human Transformation Centre.

The programme was held till Saturday 11 October, but unfortunately, I have to fly to Kuala Lumpur early morning of the second day of the programme to attend a meeting in Subang Jaya.

ISDEV QURBAN FEAST

On the second Eid ul-Adha, Wednesday 8 October 2014, ISDEV held a Qurban lunch specially for the staff of the USM Chancellory (Vice-Chancellor's Office, Registrar Department, Bursary, Human Resource, Public Relations Office, Admission Department, Human Transformation Centre, etc). Foods for 400 guests were prepared and finished completely, Alhamdulillah.

Guests of Honour were Vice-Chancellor, Deputies Vice-Chancellor, Bursar and Heads of Departments at the Chancellory building.