ACEH MISSION 2: SIGNING OF MOU WITH IAIN AR-RANIRY

Dr Nazaruddin A. Wahid, the Dean of the Faculty of Shari`ah, IAIN Ar-Raniry (left) and me signing the MoU at the Opening Ceremony of the International Conference on Islamic Economics and Finance, 11 October 2010

During the trip to Aceh, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) also has been signed between ISDEV and the Faculty of Shari'ah, Institut Agama Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry, Banda Aceh. The programs planned in this MoU are as follows:

1. Academic visits incorporating short term visits of Scholars including visiting lecturer and external assesor/examiner;   
2. Joint research and development activities, including assistance with the development of relevant centers within each University; 
3. Participation and co-sponsoring of international conferences, seminars, workshops and academic meetings
4. Upgrading knowledge of lecturers through continuing professional development (CPD), post-doctoral program and sabbatical leave programmes;    
5.  Exchange students at the undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Exchanging gifts after the signing ceremony

ACEH MISSION 1: SPEECH ON ISLAMIC-BASED DEVELOPMENT FOR POST-TSUNAMI ACEH

Speech during the Closing Ceremony of the Conference

At the Aceh's International Conference on Islamic Economics and Finance organized by the Faculty of  Shari`ah of the Institut Agama Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry, I talked on `Islamic-Based Development for Post-Tsunami Aceh: A Theoretical Construct', while Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad spoke on `Total Quality Management (TQM) in Islamic Financial Institutions: Can It?'.

Speech on the Islamic-Based Development for Post-Tsunami Aceh

Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad on TQM in Islamic Financial Institutions

In my speech, three main points were put forward.

Firstly, I expressed my conviction that Aceh must develop via an Islamic-based development strategy for four reasons. First, Aceh is a Muslim majority province; second, Aceh has proven to be able to become a strong Islamic government with outstanding civilization during 16-17th Century and there is a great possibility to revive it; third, Aceh used to be blessed with Islamic rulers and fighters whose spirit are definitely still around within the hearts of the post-tsunami Acehnese; and post-tsunami Aceh is facing with huge challenges from exogenous systems and cultures which could only be overcome by Islam.

Secondly, I briefly overviewed the development approaches in Aceh after tsunami and concluded that they could be hardly considered as Islamic-based development approaches.


Thirdly, I outlined a theoretical construct of the Islamic-based development approach for post-tsunami Aceh, consisting of 7 principles, viz. the mould is Islamic tasawwur, the actors are servants and vicegerent of God, the time-scale includes pre-birth, present and Hereafter worlds, the framework is obligatory knowledge (fard `ain), the methodology is ibadah, the means is the natural resources, and the ultimate aim is the pleasure of Allah (mardhatillah).

MULTI-MISSIONS IN ACEH, 9-12 OCTOBER 2010

At Penang International Airport before flying with Firefly to Aceh

Just arrived home safely from Aceh three days ago, after being there for four days, from 9 to 12 October 2010. With me were 4 lecturers, 6 Phd students, and 14 Master (Mixed Mode) students of ISDEV, totalling 25 altogether.

The aims were many, as follows:

1. Accompanying the Master students in their Wisata Spiritual Tsunami which includes a tour to places related to tsunami, a discussion with Aceh Development Planning Agency (Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Daerah Aceh, BAPEDDA), and a discussion between ISDEV Master students and postgraduate students of Institut Agama Islam Negeri (IAIN) Ar-Raniry;

2. Signing a Memorandum of Understanding between ISDEV and the Faculty of Shari`ah of the Institut Agama Islam Negeri (IAIN) Ar-Raniry, Banda Aceh;

3. Fulfilling an invitation from the Faculty of Shari`ah, IAIN Ar-Raniry, together with ISDEV Deputy Director Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad, to speak at its International Seminar on Islamic Economics and Finance; and

4. Establishing networking with important figures in Aceh.

The details of each of the missions will follow in subsequent postings, InshaAllah.

Briefing by Sis Ilani Mat Nawi, the Secretary of the Trip Committee at Penang International Airport before boarding the flight

Received at Aceh International Airport by Dr Nazaruddin A. Wahid, the Dean of the Faculty of Shari`ah of the IAIN Ar-Raniry (extreme right) and Bapak H. Syamsunan Mahmud, the Ketua Dewan Pertimbangan, Aceh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (2nd from right)

Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad (4th from right) with MISDEV10 students at Aceh International Airport

Mess Bank Indonesia, the accommodation at which our graduate students stayed



On arrival at the Bank Indonesia Mess

Wisma Lampriek beside the Mess Bank Indonesia, where ISDEV lecturers stayed

Lounge at the Wisma Lampriek







KEYNOTE SPEECH AT AMRON CONFERENCE, NAKHON SI THAMMARAT

Delivering the keynote speech on `Strategizing Islamic Education'

Alhamdulillah, another task completed - a keynote speech at 1st AMRON International Conference themed ASEAN Islamic Education - Change From Within Through  Education, held at Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand on 2-3 October 2010. The title of my speech was `Strategizing Islamic Education'.

I put forward two main points in this keynote speech. Firstly, that we should not worry too much about the numbers of  Islamic education institutions nowadays as they are mushrooming everywhere, both in Muslim and minority-Muslim worlds. What should be worried is the strategy to attain the maximum accomplishment of the aims of these institutions. Secondly, there are at least three main components of the strategy that should be taken into account seriously, viz. the management method of the Islamic education, the teaching-learning method that has been adopted, and the approaches taken to realize the goals of the Islamic education.

I expressed my conviction that the management method must be fully Islamic, deeply rooted in Islamic own's philosophical and epistemological underpinnings; the teaching-learning method should not ignore the `heart-to-heart' method; and the approach has to do away with imitation, benchmarking and competition - the three likened attitudes of many Muslims that ascertain them to be eternal followers rather than innovative leaders.

Opening Ceremony (R-L): Myself, President of Walailak University Associate Professor Dr Thai Tipsuwannakul, Secretary General of ASEAN Dr Surin Pitsuwan, & Professor Sir Azyumardi Azra of Universiti Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta, Indonesia

Parts of the participants, altogether totalling more than a thousand

Another six ISDEV members too participated in the Conference by presenting their respective papers: Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad, Dr Zakaria Bahari, Dr Zahri Hamat, Dr Mohammad Zaini Abu Bakar, Dr Masakaree Ardae @ Nik Wan Muhammad Syukri, and Ustaz Shukri Hanapi.

ISDEVdelegates with Br. Hasni (extreme right) of Sekolah Menengah Islam al-Amin, Gombak at Twin Lotus Hotel, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand where the guests of the Conference stayed

The Conference also saw the declaration of the establishment of ASEAN Muslim Research Organisation Network (AMRON), signed by representatives from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, Phillipines, and Cambodia. I was appointed as the representative of Malaysia to sign the declaration, together with the  other respective representatives of the ASEAN member countries. ISDEV was honoured to be recognized as one of the founding members of AMRON, apart from Walailak University, Yala Islamic University, Chulalongkorn University, Prince Songkla Universdity, and Curriculum Reform for Pondok Project.

The signing ceremony, witnessed by ASEAN Secretary General Dr Surin Pitsuwan

The organisation of the Conference and the establishment of AMRON has been initiated and supported strongly by Secretary General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, who was with us all along during the Conference. He has also hosted a dinner at his Pondok Bantan and a breakfast at another branch of his pondok.

With ASEAN Secretary General Dr Surin Pitsuwan (middle) and ISDEV's Ustaz Shukri Hanapi (right)

With Assistant Professor Dr Chairat Siripatana, Principal Coordinator of AMRON and Chairman of the Conference's Organizing Committee

Distinguished speakers and guests of the Conference from ASEAN member countries

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