International Conference On Islam And Higher Education 
”Contemporary Higher Education Needs In Muslim Countries"
8 and 9 November 2010
International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia

Jointly organised by
International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS Malaysia), The Pahang State Foundation, IKIP International College, International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), Faculty of Education, University Malaya, Al Mustafa International University, Iran & Amin Research and Cultural Centre

Why a Conference on Islam and Higher Education?

Muslims account for 20% of the world population and yet only about 10% of universities in the world belong to them. There is a real need for more institutions of higher learning in Muslim countries especially of the world-class quality. Although in the post-colonial era more and more national universities have been built in the Islamic world, Muslim needs for modern higher education are still largely met by Western universities and colleges. Apart from having to establish more national universities, there is the need for new initiatives by such international bodies as the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to build more international universities that would cater to the needs of the global Muslim ummah.

Higher education landscapes in the Islamic world are changing, faster in some of its countries than in others. The new educational landscapes are being shaped, colored, and influenced by many factors, especially the political, cultural, technology, economic, and financial factors, both local and global. These offer both opportunities and challenges to the Muslim countries to effectively address their contemporary and future needs in higher education. In tackling the issue of Muslim higher education needs, particularly the needs for world-class universities and other institutions of higher learning, it is important to pay due attention not only to the necessity of wisely used material, financial, and human resources, but also to the desirability of accessing and utilizing Islam’s cultural, intellectual, and traditional knowledge resources.

It is these latter resources alone that can help guarantee a vast qualitative improvement to contemporary Muslim higher education. It is the aim of this conference to address these various issues and to arrive at some of the solutions to the problems and challenges now confronting the global Muslim ummah.

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