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// Focus

the many challenges she faces, citing the three airplane in the Prime Minister’s Department of Malaysia, as
disasters (Malaysia Airlines’ MH 370 and MH 17 as well as agreements for UIM – CIMB Islamic cooperation in
Air Asia’s QZ 8501) and the recent massive floods which higher education through a special endowment grant.
hit mostly the states in the East Coast of Peninsular UIM was represented by its Global Wisdom Academy
Malaysia as some examples of the challenges. He added Director, Prof. Dr Noor Inayah Ya’akub while Mr. Badlisyah
that wisdom has a critical role to play in overcoming Abdul Ghani, CEO of CIMB Islamic, signed on behalf
problems in various issues of security, terrorism, of the global Islamic banking and finance services
education and the economy while congratulating UIM franchise of CIMB Group.
for taking the initiative to take up the discussion. Earlier
on, in his welcoming address to attendees of ICW, the The first MoU was for establishing Chair for Waqf
President of UIM Tan Sri Prof. Dr. Mohd. Yusof Noor and Islamic Finance Management Studies under UIM’s
welcomed the distinguished delegates and presenters Institute for Waqf and Islamic Financial Management
and expressed his appreciations and hopes for their (i-WAFA) aimed at providing research leadership in areas
willingness to share their perspectives on global wisdom that will complement both parties of the agreements,
in the effort to develop a systematic wisdom approach specifically in the areas of Waqf and Islamic Finance
in bringing stability and peace on earth. management. A total of RM1 million will be devoted
to creating this Chair position which is meant for an
internationally acclaimed professor or industry expert
Memorandum of Understanding who will spearhead research activities that will develop
an integrated and dynamic ecosystem for knowledge
During the opening ceremony of ICW, two documents and wisdom in the focused disciplines of Waqf and
of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were signed Islamic finance. It is hoped that this Chair will propel
between UIM and CIMB Islamic, witnessed by the Right capability and capacity development in the specifically
Honourable Dato’ Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, Minister
mentioned areas in enhancing the profile of Malaysia

All of the international attendees at the UIM International
Convention on Wisdom would agree that it was an outstanding

event. The Convention made a unique contribution to deepening
our understanding of the wisdom that one finds in every culture,
philosophy and religion and of the contribution that the sharing of that
wisdom can make to harmonising the world, to building unity while
respecting diversity. Having been to many high level international
conferences, I would rate the UIM Convention as one of the very best
both in terms of quality and efficiency. All of the papers were very
focussed, challenging and informed. Certainly they contributed to our
understanding of the Islamic mind and the embedding of Islam in the
Malay world, while forcing us to think critically about the challenges
facing higher education and humanity in in the future. In a rapidly
changing and troubled world, learning to life together in peace and

harmony and the sharing of wisdom have never been more vital to
assure our common future. I must then congratulate the UIM for the
contribution its first International Convention has made to informing
educational and development policy and international understanding
and for the impressive start it has made as a new university with strong
roots in the wisdom of Malaysian scholars and rulers.

Professor Dr Colin Power
University of Queensland, Australia

UIM Bulletin 5