AHMAD AZRIN PASSED HIS PHD WITH FLYING COLOURS

Azrin (sitting right) with the Board of Examiners after the viva

Another valuable gift from Allah swt today, Alhamdulilah.

Ahmad Azrin Adnan, my PhD student has been decided by the Board of Examiners, after Azrin's excellent defence (viva) of his thesis, to have passed his PhD with flying colours. All examiners, internal and external, agreed that Azrin has written an outstanding thesis and should even be given an Award.  The external examiner passed him without correction, while the other two internal examiners passed him with only a very minor typographical correction. All suggest that an Award should be given to the thesis.

Subsequently, the thesis is suggested to be nominated by the School of Social Sciences for the Best Thesis Award (Pure Arts), annually awarded by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) to excellent graduates on USM's Persada Kencana Night. Next year, ISDEV will also nominate the thesis for the prestigous Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin Best Thesis Award, InshaAllah.

During the preparation of his thesis, Azrin has also published 3 journal articles and presented 16 working papers at national and international conferences/seminars, including at Islamic Training and Research Institute (IRTI) of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during his tenure as Visiting Researcher at the Institute.

The title of Azrin's thesis is "Choice  Determinants of Islamic Banking Institution Amongst Muslim in Terengganu". He is currently resuming his lectureship at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) in Kuala Terengganu.

Selamat meneruskan perjuangan memuliakan Islam, Azrin. And your PhD is just one of the means.

After solatul-hajat before the viva, ISDEV brothers wishing Azrin good luck

Dua of thanks after knowing Azrin's excellent accomplishment, after the viva

With Azrin at ISDEV - the latest photo today

KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT INGRAW10 DONE

Delivering the keynote address

Alhamdulillah, invitation to deliver keynote address at the 5th ISDEV International Graduate Workshop (INGRAW10) this morning has been fulfilled successfully. In spite of not having a breakfast for not having adequate time and with a little dizziness in my head for perhaps not going to bed as earlier as is needed by an old man at my age, or  for not taking  my routine medicine for again not having enough time, Allah swt has helped me to have a lively discussion in the presentation of the keynote address. Thanks Allah.

The title of the keynote address is "Constructing A Well-Structured Thesis", delivered in front of about 100 graduate participants from various local and international universities. The Workshop, organised by the Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV) with the co-operation of Institute of Postgraduate Studies of Universiti Sains Malaysia, is an ISDEV annual event. This year, it has 76 papers to be presented by the participants during the two-day Workshop in 6 concurrent sessions.

Below is what I meant by "A Well-Structured Thesis", consisting of all the necessary components of a thesis, arranged in the following structure:

Title

Acknowledgement

Contents

List of Tables

List of Figures

Transliteration

Abbreviation

Glossary

Abstract

Chapter 1:  Introduction

Chapter 2:  Literature Review

Chapter 3:  Research Methodology

Chapter 4:  Profile/Background of the Case Study (if any)

Chapter 5:  Analysis of Findings

Chapter 6:  Conclusion

Bibliography / References

Appendix

Some may probably think and do it differently, but mine is based on ISDEV experience that has resulted in the production of winning theses, both at USM and national levels. Undeniably there is no universal standardization of the structure, but mine is firmly believed to have  not only covered all elements needed by a thesis, but also covering them systematically.

Participants listening to the keynote address

With some of the participants after the address

PROGRAMMES ON EID 1431/10 SEPT 2010

FIRST EID

• Eid prayer at USM Mosque
• Accepting guests at home
• Arrival of second brother-in-law and family from Bentong, Pahang

L-R Sitting: A`firah, Akif; L-R Standing: Ummu, Taariq

Family members after Eid prayer

SECOND EID

• Managed to pass through the black smoke of the burning cables of the Penang Bridge
• Visited father, mother & grandmother-in-laws' graveyards in Yan, Kedah
• Visited wife's only living uncle in Yan, Kedah
• Visited and lunch at wife's nephew house in Gurun, Kedah
• Trapped in traffic jam for 4 hours at Penang jetty terminal in an endeavor to escape traffic jam on the Penang Bridge due to the three burning cables under it

Visiting wife's nephew in Gurun, Kedah

Second brother-in-law and family from Bentong, Pahang at my house before departing to Kedah

Visited Pak Cik Mat, wife's only living uncle in Yan, Kedah

On the Penang ferry at last, after four hours queue 

 THIRD EID

• Brother-in-law and family left for Bentong, Pahang
• Visited mother's graveyard in Ipoh, Perak
• Visited sister in Rapat Setia, Ipoh, Perak
• Arrived home late evening

Ummu and Akif in Ipoh, Perak

FOURTH EID

• Sister and family from Ipoh came to Penang

Aman & Aida (most left and right): Sister's last son and daughter-in-law - Newly wed couple

Sister and family at my house: Lunching with nasi kandar

Some of sister's' children and grandchildren outing at Queensbay, Penang, accompanied by Afirah, Akif, Taariq and Ummu

SELAMAT HARI RAYA TO THOSE WHO ARE QUALIFIED

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri to those who are qualified to celebrate it, with a lot of congratulations.

I say it `qualified' as only those who have successfully fasted accordingly that deserve to celebrate their winning deeds.

To those who are not,  let's spend this Hari Raya by seeking forgiveness from Allah s.w.t., with a lot of regrets.

With great hope, Allah, please forgive us.

CALL FOR PAPERS - ZAKAT TRANSFORMATION

Proud that ISDEV is announcing its another International Conference, the third ISDEV International Conference for the year. It is The 5th ISDEV International Conference on Islamic Development Management (IDMAC10) - to be held on 21-22 December 2010, themed Zakat Transformation: From Subsistence to Productive Zakat (http://isdev.usm.my/or http://isdevidmac10.wordpress.com/).

Prior to this, ISDEV had its 3rd annual International Workshop on Islamic Development (WAPI3) in Medan, Indonesia, co-organised with Universitas Muhammadiyyah Sumatera Utara (http://isdev.usm.my/view.asp?idnews=800&idcat=8). 48 ISDEV delegates from Universiti Sains Malaysia were there to pesent their respective papers.

The second and the nearest to be held, on 21-22 September 2010 at Universiti Sains Malaysia, would be the 5th ISDEV International Graduate Workshop (INGRAW10). More than 70 papers have been accepted to be presented at the Workshop (http://isdev.usm.my/ or http://isdevingraw10.wordpress.com/). All presenters are graduates who are pursuing their post-graduate studies at various universities. They are only allowed to present their respective papers alone, by themselves, not with any co-author, even with their supervisors. The Workshop is only meant and designed for the post-graduate students, for them to have a real experience by themselves.

The latest announcement of the ISDEV third International Conference for this year that has just been released is as follows. All are invited to participate.

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CALL FOR PAPERS

The 5th ISDEV International Conference on Islamic Development Management (IDMAC10)

 ZAKAT TRANSFORMATION: FROM SUBSISTENCE TO PRODUCTIVE ZAKAT

21-22 December 2010 at University Conference Hall, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
Organizer: Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV), Universiti Sains Malaysia

Who Should Participate

Those who have or are interested in innovative new ideas to transform the implementation of zakat from the existing subsistence level to a more productive level. It intends to blend the innovative ideas to move the distribution and usage of zakat beyond merely the present cul-de-sac state, to a dynamic state that entails with reproductive effects among the asnaf. The scope of the ideas may include fiqh consideration, procedures, practices, administration, management, calculation, system, politics, and other relevant issues.

Important Dates

Submission of Abstract : 15 October 2010
Notification of Abstract Acceptance : 21 October 2010
Submission of Full Paper : 21 November 2010
Registration : 21 December 2010

Language

English or Arabic or Malay

Further Details

http://isdev.usm.my
http://isdevidmac10.wordpress.com

Contacts

Dr Zakaria Bahari (bzak@usm.my) Tel: +(6) 04 653 2664 Mobile; +6 013 4281960
Dr Zahri Hamat (zahri@usm.my) - Tel: +(6) 04 653 2800 Mobile: +6 019 4727353