INCEIF has always prided itself as a global university, in providing world-class education, almost equal representation of local and international faculty, and having internationally renowned collaborators to promote Islamic finance education worldwide. Therefore, the university has continuously encouraged its students and faculty to seek out international experience.
Three INCEIF students recently returned from a three-month study in Istanbul under a student exchange programme, Erasmus+, in Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim Universitesi (IZU) Turkey. The students – Sumaira Siddiky (MIFP), Siti Kholifatul Rizkiah (MSc) and Fatin Nabilah Fatah (MSc) – spent a semester at the Department of Islamic Economics and Finance of IZU.
“It was a blessing in many ways and truly, a once in a lifetime opportunity. Thank you very much to INCEIF, IZU and Erasmus for initiating the project and providing assistance throughout the journey. The programme gives a unique learning experience to the participating students. Certainly it gave us a different perspective upon returning to Malaysia as we have gained vital international experience. Hopefully, this would boost our chances and choice of employability,” said Fatin Nabilah.
INCEIF hosted three IZU PhD students under the same student exchange programme during the September 2018 semester.
Erasmus (EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students)+ is the European Union (EU)’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. Its global budget of 14.7 billion euros (RM67.8 billion) provides opportunities for millions of students around the world to study, train and volunteer abroad. The programme, which started in 2014, offers scholarships and international credit mobility schemes. It encourages mobility and cooperation projects for education, training, youth and sports in 33 programme countries (all 28 EU member states and five other European countries).
To be eligible for any of the Erasmus+ activities, students have to be registered at a higher education provider that is part of the Erasmus+ programme, and has courses linked to one or more of the higher education institutions in Europe. Students get to study in a foreign university for three to 12 months and obtain credits which are then recognised at the sending institution as part of their degree. Since 2015, projects involving selected Malaysian universities have allowed for the mobility of 861 persons – 531 from Malaysia to Europe and 330 from Europe to Malaysia.
Next to participate in the Erasmus+ programme, under Staff Mobility for Teaching Programme, will be two INCEIF faculty members, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohamed Eskandar Shah and Prof. Dr. Zulkarnain Muhamad Sori. They will be going to IZU to lecture and carry joint academic activities for a week in the coming months.
Deputy President Academic Prof Mansor Ibrahim said: “INCEIF being part of this international programme is certainly a testimony to the world-class quality of our faculty and education. We are pleased that we are able to share our Islamic finance expertise with the international community. For the students and faculty members, such experience abroad will certainly help to develop their professional skills, build relationships with international peers, and gain fresh ideas about their studies and work.”
