Ensuring quality in education
WITH programmes ranging from pre- university to professional level as well as leadership development in the areas of law and business administration, management, allied health sciences, engineering, information communication technology, English, Arabic and other foreign languages, the International Islamic University Malaysia ( IIUM) Centre for Strategic Continuing Education and Training ( IIUM Crescent) offers students a unique opportunity for pursuing lifelong learning and continuing professional development.
According to Prof Datuk Seri Dr Zaleha Kamrudin, rector of IIUM, since it was established in 1983, the university has made significant contributions that put IIUM on the global map.
The biggest achievement is its recognition as the Premier International Islamic Research University conferred by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( ISESCO) on Dec 17, 2014.
IIUM has been recognised all over the world especially among Muslim nations and has become a role model offering integrated tertiary education infused with Islamic values without compromising the professional aspects and contents of various disciplines.
“Prominent global leaders, ministers and heads of universities and institutions from various parts of the world came to IIUM to benchmark themselves against our achievements.
“IIUM has also developed collaborations with various institutions of higher learning and agencies all around the world,” says Prof Zaleha.
Significant contributions by IIUM to developing countries were made possible upon appointment as consultants by the Islamic Development Bank and Asian Development Bank to establish Islamic universities in Maldives, Afghanistan and a few other countries.
“This special recognition is testament to the success of our strategies, quality leadership, and the commitment and contribution of our academic and administrative staff,” she says.
Prof Zaleha is confident that IIUM is capable of developing strategies and innovative ideas to remain competitive and attractive among the Malaysian and global community as an institution of choice for tertiary education and continuing education.
The establishing of IIUM Crescent is one of the university’s strategies to provide opportunities to those seeking to achieve their ambition of pursuing tertiary education.
This is in line with the Government’s commitment to transforming Malaysia’s education system as set out in the Education Blueprint, which focuses on equipping students holistically to succeed in the 21st century.
IIUM is committed to contribute to developing Malaysians who are knowledgeable, can think critically and creatively, have leadership and communication skills.
IIUM Crescent is the merger of three specialised business units ( SBUs), which together have more than 30 years of experience in offering continuing education and professional development programmes developed by the academics from the various Kulliyyahs in IIUM.
IIUM Crescent offers a wide range of organic homegrown academic and professional training programmes developed by senior professors with strong research and publication backgrounds.
IIUM Crescent is based at the IIUM Kuala Lumpur campus located strategically at Persiaran Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, Taman Duta.
It provides an environment conducive to learning with ample facilities, such as well- equipped classrooms, library, Wi- Fi connectivity, student accommodation and study areas and more.
Offering postgraduate programmes covering a wide range of disciplines, IIUM Crescent is committed to excellence in providing continuing education, professional development, as well as leadership skills development trainings.
IIUM Crescent’s postgraduate programmes in business and management and law as well as pre- university and language courses are popular with local and international students.
IIUM Crescent’s signature academic programmes are the study of Islamic products and Islamic services as well as Islamic banking and finance ( Certificate in Islamic Banking and Finance Law, LLM in Islamic Banking and Finance, BSC and MSC in Islamic Banking and Finance).
The MBA programme offers specialisations in Islamic finance, strategic management, waqf management, construction management and finance.
Those seeking to qualify as syariah judges and lawyers can pursue the Diploma in Administration of Islamic Judiciary and Diploma in Shariah Law and Legal Practice.
Other postgraduate programmes now offered are the Master of Business Administration ( MBA) and Master of Law ( LLM) with focus on specific areas of law such as Islamic finance and banking law, business law and international law.
At doctoral level, the centre offers the Doctor of Business Administration programme and PhD in various areas of Islamic studies and social sciences.
IIUM Crescent welcomes working adults and those looking to enhance their qualifications.
There are also various professional qualifications and postgraduate programmes that are tailored to the needs of working adults who need to combine work and study.
“As a centre established under the International Islamic University Malaysia, a leading international university, it is important for IIUM Crescent to offer programmes and training IIUM Crescent, established on Feb 25, is a merger of IIUM’s strategic business units, Graduate School of Management, Harun M. Hashim Law Centre and the Institute for Language Advancement.
IIUM Crescent was set up to govern the university’s various SBUs that offer executive programmes, professional development training and continuing education courses with emphasis on lifelong learning.
Dean of IIUM Crescent Prof Dr Ainul Jaria Maidin said that it is timely for IIUM to have a central agency to manage the lifelong learning programmes for promoting good governance, efficiency in implementation and ensuring quality. modules that produce graduates who are able to internalise and put into practice the knowledge and skills acquired in shaping management, leadership and organisational excellence,” says IIUM Crescent dean Prof Dr Ainul Jaria Maidin.
“Being one of the pioneering international Islamic universities in the region, IIUM emphasises internationalisation and promotes the integration of Islamic values and ethics into all the sciences and non- sciences programmes. We ensure our graduates can be agents of change either locally or globally.”
The mission of IIUM is to become a leading international centre of educational excellence that seeks to restore the dynamic and progressive role of the Muslim Ummah in all branches of knowledge and intellectual discourse.
The integration of Islamic principles, values and ethics into the curriculum promotes the good values of Islam that are in convergence with universal values.
Recognising the need to produce holistic graduates, effective and innovative educational programmes were developed and made available using innovative teaching pedagogy and blended learning environment.
Prof Ainul explains that to maintain the quality of education, the IIUMC’s best practices are implemented via statutory procedures and policies endorsed by Ministry of Higher Education.
Its programmes are also accredited by the IIUM’s selfaccreditation practices and standards set by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency.
“In addition to high- quality standards in academic programmes, the efficiency and effectiveness in the context of teaching and learning is maintained through various core processes certified by ISO9001: 2000
“This body ensures that the delivery of the programmes adhere to the procedures stipulated by the Higher Education Ministry, Malaysian Qualification Agency ( MQA), and the university with regards to its implementation and goes towards enhancing the quality of the services rendered,” says Prof Ainul.
IIUM Crescent is focused on increasing the standard of excellence in administration procedures, achieving efficiency in the utilisation of resources and minimising issues pertaining to human resource and financial governance as well as customer services.
IIUM Crescent has as one of its missions to establish strategic partnership with a wide range quality management system,” says Prof Ainul.
IIUM graduates will acquire high level of English proficiency as the language is the main medium of instruction besides Bahasa Malaysia and Arabic for certain programmes, especially those commissioned by Malaysian government departments and some Gulf countries.
Prof Ainul says, “IIUM Crescent cultivates strategic partnerships across the world, collaborating in terms of teaching, research and knowledge exchange.
“This dynamic strategy drives our distinctiveness to continue attracting and retaining highquality students, staff and collaborators.”
IIUM Crescent has established partnerships with various local and international organisations, such as the Australian Institute of Management in Western Australia, Georgia Institute of Technology ( Georgia), Malaysian Prisons Department, Malaysian Immigration Department, Tabung Haji, Public Bank Berhad, Malayan Banking Berhad, Bank Negara Malaysia, United Nation Development Program, Unhabitat, Kyoto University, Wisconsin University USA, Ma’din Academy Kerala India, Hong Kong University and others.
The postgraduate programmes offered by IIUM Crescent was developed taking into account the need to balance between knowledge and practical skills such as social responsibility, practical skills, communication skills, leadership and teamwork, managerial and entrepreneurial skills, professionalism and integrity.
For more information, visit www. iium. edu. my/ iiumcrescent or call 03- 6207 3400. of local industries that include skills training institutions, other higher- learning institutions, as well as government agencies involved in offering skills training, continuing education courses and professional development programmes.
Your gateway to professional leadership excellence can start with IIUM, which offers the opportunity to improve knowledge, skills and credentials for career development.
Besides the opportunity to study courses on a full- time or part- time mode taught by highly qualified teaching staff, including industrial experts, students at IIUM Crescent will benefit in terms of networking opportunities.