Key events
Centre for Islamic Business and Finance Research hosts Islamic Finance
Industry Forum and Industrial Advisory Board Meeting
Dr Zamir Iqbal (left) and Mr Zahid Rehman (right)
The Centre for Islamic Business and Finance Research (CIBFR) at The University of Nottingham
Malaysia Campus (UNMC), hosted an Industry Forum on 12 January 2015 to discuss major
themes within the Islamic finance industry. Speakers included Dr Zamir Iqbal, Head of the
World Bank Global Centre for Islamic Finance, and Encik Zahid Rehman, Assistant Secretary
General of the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB). The two major themes at the forum
were risk management in Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) and BASEL III capital regulation
for Islamic banks. Dr Zamir Iqbal highlighted that asset quality is important for Islamic banks
and that the Asian Islamic bank loan portfolio is deficient, compared to conventional counterparts.
Encik Zahid Rehman who shared the same view, acknowledged that the IFSB is working closely
with Islamic banks to develop and implement capital adequacy framework and stress testing
mechanism for IFIs. The forum was well attended by the representatives of Islamic financial
institutions such as Hong Leong Islamic Bank, IFSBs, industry practitioners and leading academic
institutions.
Web: http://www.nottingham.edu.my/Business/Research/Centres/CIBFR/index.aspx
Facebook: CIBFR
Twitter: @CIBFR_UNMC
CIBFR signs memorandum of understanding
From left to right: Prof. Graham Kendall, Dr Humayon Dar, Dr Nafis Alam and Prof. Lee Chew Ging
The Centre for Islamic Business and Finance Research (CIBFR) recently signed
a memorandum
of understanding (MoU) with the UK’s Edbiz Corporation to offer
executive development programmes
in Islamic finance. The MoU was signed by Dr
Nafis Alam, Director of CIBFR, and Dr Humayon Dar,
CEO of Edbiz Corporation. It
was witnessed by UNMC’s Vice-Provost (Research and Knowledge Transfer),
Professor Graham Kendall, and Professor Lee Chew Ging, Dean of NUBS
Malaysia.
Both
signatories highlighted that under the MoU, the two organisations will run an annual
Islamic
Finance Leadership Programme. The programme will focus on developing
high calibre talent for future
leadership of the global Islamic finance
landscape and will provide a balanced content of academic
expertise and
industry experiences from top professionals and academicians. At the signing
ceremony,
Professor Lee Chew Ging, Dean of NUBS Malaysia, outlined the
aspirations of UNMC and CIBFR to
promote and establish a leading role in
research and executive development programmes in the area
of Islamic finance.
Web: http://www.nottingham.edu.my/Business/Research/Centres/CIBFR/index.aspx
Facebook: CIBFR
Twitter: @CIBFR_UNMC
CIBFR partners with IslamicBanker.com
From left to right: Prof. Lee, Prof. Ennew, Mr Shakeeb Saqlain (CEO IslamicBanker Ltd),
Prof. Kendall, Prof. Ong and Dr Nafis
UNMC and IslamicBanker.com have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to set out a
framework for collaboration between the two parties and facilitate international efforts to foster
job creation and support student development. Both institutions will also cooperate in contributing
to wider market development in Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries by jointly
promoting professional development activities and industry standards.
The collaboration is focused on three strategic areas:
- sharing knowledge and insights: preparing, analysing and promoting research and knowledge
networks in Islamic finance and OIC countries;
- training and development: creating new and innovative training and development tools
for students and professionals in the industry; and
- sharing of good practice: promoting learning from experience in the development of Islamic
finance.
According to Professor Christine Ennew, CEO and Provost of UNMC, Islamic business and finance is
emerging as a serious academic discipline. At The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus we are
developing innovative programmes in Islamic business and finance. We are delighted to be working
with Islamic Banker – close engagement with key organisations in the Islamic finance sector will be
invaluable as we seek to develop our research and teaching in a way which provides real value to
this rapidly developing industry.
CIBFR participates in Southwestern Finance Association Annual Meeting
The Centre for Islamic Business and Finance Research (CIBFR) was part of the 54th Annual
Meeting of the Southwestern Finance Association (SWFA) held in Houston, Texas from
11–15 March 2015. The Director of the CIBFR, Dr Nafis Alam (Associate Professor of Finance),
and Deputy Director of the CIBFR, Dr Mamunur Rashid (Assistant Professor of Finance) each
presented a paper on issues and developmentsin the Islamic finance domain at the meeting.
The SWFA was organised in 1961 with the goal of advancing academic and professional finance.
Its current membership includes individuals from all regions of the United States, as well as
from countries around the world. The SWFA encourages the development and dissemination
of new ideas and research in finance, and supports the advancement of pedagogical and
instructional methods in financial education.
NUBS Malaysia students’ participation in business competitions
World Islamic Economics Forum Social Entrepreneurship Challenge 2015
From left to right: Serena, Gan, Yap and Mak
NUBS Foundation students Karl-Mun Mak, Serena Ming Ai Eng, Shin Wei Gan (team leader) and
Ye Wen Yap from Team Eugeniaes were successful in advancing to the final level of the World
Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Social Entrepreneurship Challenge on 16 January 2015.
The challenge was launched by the Malaysian Minister of Education II, Y.B. Dato' Seri Idris Jusoh
on 7 July 2014, and Team Eugeniaes students were coached by WIEF on pitching their ideas and
plans to the panel of judges and community partners. The university-appointed Academic Mentor
for Team Eugeniaes was Dr Chuen-Khee Pek, Principal Mentor of the NUBS Malaysia Student
Competition Mentoring Group.
Intervarsity Talent Achievers Challenge 2015
From left to right: Ben, Charles, Tee and Mok
NUBS undergraduate students Ben Tan, Charles Tan, Jacky Mok, and Wee Heng Tee from
Team Nottingham emerged as the Champions of the Intervarsity Talent Achievers Challenge
(ITAC) 2015 which took place at the University of Malaya from 23-25 January 2015.
The sponsors of ITAC 2015 included the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA),
BDO, Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in
England and Wales (ICAEW), KPMG, the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) and PwC.
Participants were placed through a tiered series of innovation-based challenges over three days.
Team Nottingham brought home trophies and a cash prize of RM3,500.
NUBS undergraduates 1st Runner-Ups at ASEAN Grand Finals of Accenture Risk
Management Challenge
From left to right: Fabiolla, William and Ahdil
A team of NUBS Malaysia undergraduate students, Ahdil Marikar, Fabiolla Netto and William
Buck emerged as 1st Runner-Ups in the ASEAN Grand Finals of the Accenture Risk Management
Challenge 2015, held at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, on 26 March 2015. The
students had advanced to the regional ASEAN Grand Finals after emerging champions at the
National Finals in Malaysia on 16 March 2015. They brought home a cash prize of SGD1,000
and certificates.
The challenge aimed to help participants better appreciate risk, providing students with
insights into the risk management industry through interaction with industry veterans
and professionals. The ASEAN Champions this year were a team from Nanyang Technological
University, Singapore.