Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation with the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), one of the most prominent institutions in the region.

The three-year MoU will be facilitated by the College of Islamic Studies (CIS) at HBKU and was signed recently by their respective representatives: Professor Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, rector of IIUM, and Dr. Emad El-Din Shahin, dean of CIS.

The MoU confirms the two institutions’ mutual commitment to support educational development and establishes a framework for cooperation and support in areas of mutual benefit. To this end, IIUM and HBKU will engage in joint academic activities that include research, workshops, and conferences; faculty and student exchanges; summer/winter schools, and others.

With six campuses across Malaysia and a global orientation, IIUM integrates Islamic values and a world-view into its humanities, scientific, and technical curricula which provide education up to doctoral level. IIUM was awarded the Best Islamic Finance University in Global Banking and Finance Award 2017.

Professor Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, rector of IIUM, said: “This newly established collaboration with HBKU positions IIUM to strengthen its academic and research excellence. We look forward to working with HBKU’s CIS on innovative education projects that advance Islamic scholarship and, importantly, support our academic framework for solving future challenges and building a more sustainable future through education.”

Speaking after the signing, Dr. Emad El-Din Shahin, dean at CIS, said: “We are delighted to cooperate with IIUM in areas of research that align with our global scholarship at the College of Islamic Studies, including Islamic banking, finance, and other fields. There are clearly mutual synergies between our institutions, in our focus areas and institutional values. We look forward to extending opportunities within HBKU’s research ecosystem and multidisciplinary programs to the IIUM community. The MoU also aligns with the strong and growing bilateral relations between Qatar and Malaysia over the last several years.”

CIS’ distinguished research division includes several research centers and clusters tackling cross-disciplinary themes and contributing to critical intellectual debates on Islam in a global context. For more information on the work of the College of Islamic Studies, please visit: cis.hbku.edu.qa