OVER 4,000 ATTEND ISLAMIC STUDIES CONVENTION, MARKING NEW ERA FOR THE FIELD

BANGI, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- The 2025 International Higher Education Islamic Studies Convention made history with more than 4,000 participants, further strengthening Malaysia’s position as a regional hub for Islamic education.

Officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today, the convention marks a new era in the transformation of Islamic studies, blending traditional scholarship (turath) with technological innovation.

In a statement, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) said the participation of national leaders, scholars, deans of Islamic studies faculties and students from within and outside the country signified a turning point for Islamic studies, from an academic discipline to a strategic agenda in shaping the Malaysia MADANI civilisation.

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“The call for Islamic studies to take the lead in guiding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based on maqasid syariah principles is both bold and progressive,” the statement said.

In the same statement, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir outlined seven key focus areas for the ministry in 2025 to drive the transformation of Islamic studies.

These include developing top national talents with digital literacy, strengthening the Industry on Campus (IoC) initiative, introducing industry sabbaticals for lecturers, and establishing the Research, Development, Innovation, Commercialisation and Economy (RDICE) unit to promote research commercialisation.

“Graduates of Islamic studies should not be confined to traditional careers but explore fields such as information technology, Islamic finance, media, diplomacy and the creative industry,” he said.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar meanwhile emphasised the need for transdisciplinary curriculum reform that integrates syariah with fintech, blockchain and data analytics.

“Imagine Islamic scholars who not only master fiqh muamalat but also understand fintech. This opens vast career opportunities in the global Islamic finance sector,” he said.

Council of Deans of Islamic Studies (MDPI) chairman Prof Dr Fauzi Hamat highlighted MDPI’s role as a national coordinating platform to align the direction of Islamic studies across higher education institutions.

UKM Faculty of Islamic Studies dean Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Izhar Ariff Mohd Kashim reaffirmed the convention’s 10 resolutions, including producing a new generation of technocrat ulama, mainstreaming Islamic techno-ethics, and positioning Malaysia as an international Islamic studies hub integrating traditional knowledge with science and technology.

The convention also saw the presentation of the RM1.08 million SISWA Programme contribution, which includes laptops for 20 students from each higher education institution to enhance digital access among underprivileged students.

-- BERNAMA