GADONG, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM, July 2015 - The existing ties and cooperation between the Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Brunei Darussalam was further strengthened through a joint academic programme called the ISDEV-UNISSA Socio-Academic Laboratory Programme which began here on 27 July 2015.

The programme, organised for the first time, was officially launched by UNISSA Rector Dr. Haji Norarfan Haji Zainal at the Rizqun International Hotel Gadong here. The speech to mark the launching was read by UNISSA Vice-Rector Dr Haji Mohammed Hussain Pehin Penyurat Haji Ahmad.

The programme which saw the participation of 22 postgraduate students (by Research and Mixed-Mode) from ISDEV and 44 from UNISSA, was scheduled to go on for a month until 28 August 2015.

Haji Mohammed Hussain said the postgraduate students who attended the programme should seize all the opportunities that came their way and learned as much as possible through the sharing of knowledge and experiences.

“Coupled with the UNISSA-ISDEV Khatam Al-Quran programme, it was hoped that this programme could expose the participants to the Arabic language and to increase their love of the language as the language of the Al-Quran and also the language of worship,” he added.

 

Meanwhile, ISDEV Director Profesor Dr. Muhammad Syukri Salleh explained that the laboratory programme is part of the initiatives of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two universities back in 2011 aimed at exposing the ISDEV Masters and PhD students to the Arabic language module taught in UNISSA under the coordination of the university’s Faculty of Arabic Language and Islamic Civilisation, Centre for Knowledge and Language Dissemination, and the Centre for Postgraduate Studies.

“It is my hope that besides being exposed to the Arabic Language, the participants will also have the opportunity to be involved in a variety of academic, religious and social activities such as community service, sports and excursions that will help to strengthen relationships and foster the spirit of brotherly love among the ISDEV and UNISSA students,” said Muhammad Syukri who is also an Adjunct Professor at UNISSA.

Muhammad Syukri added, the programme was also intended to forge strategic alliances and smart partnerships among graduates in academic fields through the organisation of colloquium, dialogue, sharing sessions and group assignments.

Also present at the launching ceremony were Pehin Orang Kaya Lela Raja Dato' Seri Laila Jasa Hj. Abdul Rahman Haji Abdul Karim who is the Executive Director of Abdul Razak Holdings Brunei Darussalam who owns the Rizqun International Hotel and sponsored the accommodation and meals of the 22 students and two lecturers who accompanied them throughout the duration of their stay at the hotel. Pehin Dato' Hj. Abdul Rahman is also a member of ISDEV Advisory Council.

Translation: Tan Ewe Hoe/Text: Mohamad bin Abdullah