Malaysia, which has been a major destination for international tourists, is increasingly becoming a popular destination for international students who want to pursue their higher studies. Its universities and colleges, offering a myriad of degrees and academic programs, now attract thousands of students every year from across the globe including Saudi Arabia.
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) with its resort-like campus in Gombak, about 25 km north of Kuala Lumpur, is one of the leading centers of higher learning in the country. Integrating Islamic values with modern elements, IIUM offers the best of both worlds with programs ranging from engineering to biotechnology, medicine, economics and law.
“IIUM is striving to become a world-class teaching and research university,” Dr. Syed Arabi Idid, rector of the university, told Arab News.
IIUM is the first Malaysian university to offer double majors in order to make its graduates more marketable. IIUM’s engineering courses are attractive as they focus on high-end technology like aeronautics and robotics. Medicine, which has an Islamic orientation with an Arabic and Islamic component, is also popular.
IIUM was founded in 1983 by the government of Malaysia and co-sponsored initially by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and some Muslim countries. It was the brainchild of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who directed the Ministry of Education in 1982 to plan for the university.
The symbol of Qur’an in the center of the university’s logo implies that it upholds the supremacy of God’s knowledge, wisdom and words above all human knowledge. The symbol of Kaaba represents the unity of knowledge and mankind while the eight domes pointing to eight directions represent the different branches of human knowledge and academic disciplines.
“IIUM was the first university in the Asia Pacific and the first organization in Malaysia to be inducted into the Balance Scorecard Hall of Fame in 2008,” the rector said.
With SAS Strategic Performance Management, the university’s balanced scorecard (BSC) process is automated, and more than 50 administrators and department heads can view updates quarterly. IIUM credits SAS with helping it reach its goal of having more of its faculty members recognized as experts in their fields. “IIUM is embarking to position itself as a premier research-based university in the region and has developed a number of key strategies. The Balance Scorecard was adopted to facilitate strategy execution,” he said.
The results were marvelous. In four years, grants increased more than 400 percent, patents doubled, publications nearly tripled and faculties recognized as experts in their fields grew from less than 10 to 40 percent.
Dr. Idid also spoke about the university’s Student Learning Enhancement Unit (SLEU), which offers students with a variety of programs that use a student-centered approach to address their needs for motivation, academic support and academic enrichment in a welcoming and collaborative environment.
He highlighted IIUM’s contribution to the development of the Islamic world. “We are the only university in the world that integrates between the Islamic and secular perspectives. For instance, in the College of Law, a student can continue to enroll into a one-year program in LLB Shariah after completing the four-year law program,” he said. The College of Economics and Management Sciences offers courses in both conventional economic and Islamic banking and finance.
“IIUM has students from more than 95 countries and this gives an added value to its students as they are exposed to different cultures,” the rector said. Its academic syllabi are prepared by groups of relevant academic experts. A Board of Studies consists of experts from within and outside the university ensures its programs meet the current professional and national requirements.
“All our academic programs need to obtain the accreditation of the Malaysian Qualification Agency and the Ministry of Higher Education,” the rector said. A special expert body reviews the programs every three, four or five years depending on their nature to maintain quality and relevance.
“During the last 25 years of its existence, IIUM has been successful in integrating Islamic revealed knowledge and values in all disciplines of its academic programs. It is compulsory for all IIUM students to take courses such as the Islamic worldview; Islam and knowledge; and fiqh and ethics for everyday life,” he explained.
IIUM has 13 faculties including Architecture and Environmental Design; Information and Communication Technology; Science; Dentistry; Pharmacy; Nursing; Allied Health Sciences; and Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences. With more than 16,000 students including 2,322 foreigners on its rolls, IIUM is one of the largest international universities in Malaysia.
“IIUM has so far produced more than 45,000 graduates specialized in various disciplines. We are proud to acknowledge that our graduates are holding important positions in the public and private sectors in their respective countries,” Idid said. All countries generally accept IIUM degrees.
The rector also spoke about the university’s strategic plans. “We have a strategic plan to achieve the Top 500 ranking in the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES). Our university also aims to be placed in the Top 25 in the OIC University Ranking by 2010,” he added.
Dr. Idid remembered with gratitude the financial support received by his university from Saudi organizations and philanthropists.
“Our university does receive financial contributions from generous individuals and organizations in Saudi Arabia. The contributions received are mainly used to assist the deserving students, who are facing financial problems but at the same time are excellent in their academic performance,” he said.
IIUM received a donation of $1 million each from Prince Sultan Charitable Foundation in 2001 and from Prince Alwaleed bin Talal in 2007. The Islamic Development Bank, Islamic Solidarity Fund, and Iqra Charitable Society contributed nearly SR1.5 million during the last five years.
At present there are 129 Saudi students at the university, mostly beneficiaries of King Abdullah Scholarship Program.
“Since the majority of Saudi students are government-sponsored, the applications are normally considered for ‘fast track’ where the applicants do not have to wait long for the results of their applications,” the rector said.
However, he pointed out that Saudis, like other international students, should meet minimum requirements to get admission.
Starting from 2007, special intensive classes are arranged for Saudi students so that they would be able to acquire the required English proficiency level for the purpose of admission into first year program within one year. These classes are designed specifically to suit the need of the Saudi students based on the request from the Ministry of Higher Education in the Kingdom, the rector said.
Asked whether international students are eligible for its scholarships, he answered in the affirmative. “Yes, we do provide scholarships to foreign students.”
There are four types of scholarships: Zakat Disbursement; the IIUM Ummatic Scholarship; the IIUM Excellent Award; and Tuition Fees Discount. Moreover, national and international organizations also extend scholarships to IIUM students, he concluded.
