This is the first such arrangement between the IIUM, sponsored by eight governments from the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and an Indian institution.

Rector of IIUM Syed Arabi Idid and Ma'din Chairman Sayyid Ibrahimul Khaleelul Bukhari signed the memorandum of understanding at a function held on the International Islamic University campus in Kuala Lumpur the other day.

The agreement is for mutual understanding for exchanging students and teachers, facilitating research and publication in various fields, conducting international seminars and workshops and credit transfer between faculties. This will also enable students from India to pursue their higher study in 50 faculties and 150 academic programs of IIUM.

"We are very happy to sign this agreement with an institution from India, which is the second largest Muslim populated country in the world, and hopeful that there would be steady exchange of students and academic programs between the two," said Syed Arabi Idid, rector of IIUM in the opening speech of the function. "This humble beginning will surely be sparkling light to new fields of collaboration and academic exchange".

Ma'din chairman said it was a new feather in the crown of developing educational culture of India. "It's not only an agreement between two institutions, but a treaty to exchange knowledge and virtue imparted by more than fifty OIC countries," Bukhari said.

IIUM is a joint venture of Malaysian Government and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), which is the umbrella body of 57 Muslim countries. IIUM, established in 1983 with 153 students, has become the premier Islamic university in the world with 30,000 students.  

At present, the University offers various bachelor, master's degree and Phd courses at its faculties, also known as Kulliyyahs. Ma'din Academy, Malappuram, established in 1997, is one of the growing educational institutions from Kerala with 10500 students and 25 educational and charity ventures.

"The agreement between these two institutions will open new vista of educational research and knowledge exchange. This treaty creates great opportunity for Indian students to pursue international education" said Bachir Soualhi, Director, Research and Innovation, IIUM.