Day Three Strategic Alliance Visit

Day Three
The whole of today was dedicated to meetings and discussions with various researchers at the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) of the Nanyang Technological University. In fact ICPVTR is our main research collaborator for our research project related to Non-Profit Organizations. In the morning we were given some background briefing of ICPVTR activities and publications by the centre’s Associate Research Fellow, Ms Diane Russel Ong Junio. In attendance to our meeting was Dr Arabinda Acharya, a Research Fellow and Manager of Strategic Projects. As Dr Archarya was one of the two founding members of the center, he recounted the establishment of ICPVTR, one of which was as a result of the 9/11 bombing of the world trade center by extremists in the US in 2001. Basically the research center was set up as an initiative to understand why terrorism financing occurs and how it was carried out. Based on scientific analytical techniques,ICPVTR provides answers and proposes counter-measures and preventive mechanisms to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. Basically, ICPVTR research activities are premised on four core objectives: (i) To conduct sustained research and analysis of terrorist, guerilla, militia and extremist political groups and their support bases. To this end, the Centre collects and analyses literature seeking to politicize and mobilize the public into supporting extremism and participating in violence; (ii) To identify the strengths and weaknesses of international, state and societal responses in managing the threat of political violence; (iii) To provide high quality instruction and training for officials and future leaders engaged in combating terrorism and other forms of political violence and (iv) To advise governments and inform societies affected by political violence on how best to manage the current and evolving threat. In the afternoon, Prof Dr Rohan Gunaratna, the Head of ICPVTR joined the meeting and he shared with us his own encounters and investigations in terrorism-related research. We were convinced that ICPVTR is indeed a good benchmark for ARI. We agreed to set up a research group (at ARI) that will be focusing on research to counter terrorism financing (TF) in the country. Various programs have been planned for 2011. Later in the afternoon, we were brought to tour the facilities available at ICPVTR. Very impressive indeed…

ARI Strategic Alliance Visit

Day Two
There were three visits today. In the morning we held two separate meetings: Prof Dr Ibrahim and Prof Dr Rashidah met up with Prof Desai, Director, Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Associate Professor Themin Suwardy from the School of Accountancy, Singapore Management University – SMU. Prof Dr Normah and Dr Radiah met up with Prof Tan Hun Tong, Director, Centre of Accounting & Auditing Research of Nanyang Business School. In both meetings, discussions were specifically focused towards possible research collaborations between these centres and the Accounting Research Institute. In the afternoon, we met up with Mr Rohan Kamis, the Managing Partner of Rohan Mah & Partners, a medium-sized public accounting firm at Shenton Way. In attendance were his three other partners, Mr Amran Robani, Mr Abdul Jabar Mustafa and Mr Alfred Lee Tuck Mun.
It was interesting to note that the company has many multi-national corporations (MNCs) as their clients. Even most SME companies, who are not statutorily required to audit their books, have voluntarily gotten their books audited by the firm. The company is also involved with the audit of non-profit or charity organizations in Singapore. Later that afternoon, we met up with our two students Azwan and Abdul Azim. They are currently undergoing a compulsory six-month internship program at the firm. Both seem happy and satisfied with their experiences so far at the firm. Cheers…

ARI Strategic Visit to Singapore

Day One
Although the main purpose of our visit to Singapore was related to ARI’s collaborative research with the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) of the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore, we have arranged our trip in such a way that we are also able to do other things: (i) to network with the Nanyang Business School of NTU and with the Singapore Management University (SMU), (ii) to hold further discussion with the ACCSB on the potential of accrediting our post-graduate programs and (iii) to visit a local accounting firm Rohan Mah & Co where two of our final year students are undertaking their six-month internship. Since Prof Dr Ibrahim went a day earlier than the other three ARI members, only he was involved with the first day agenda where he held a half-day discussion with the ACCSB. The main purpose of the meeting is to gain more insights on what needs to be done to prepare ourselves in gaining an international accreditation for our programs.

Strategic Alliance with Singapore Research Centres

Four ARI members namely Prof Normah, Prof Ibrahim, Prof Rashidah and Dr Radiah will be on a working visit to Singapore on 3/1 to 7/1 2011. The visit is mainly to discuss with ARI prospective partners at two prominent research centers at Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University on our collaborative research and international academic programs. In Singapore we will also be meeting with the Association of Banks in Singapore, the ACCSB and an accounting firm where our students are undergoing internship

Call for Paper in Islamic Finance

ARI is reproducing the "Call for Papers" obtainable from the International Shari`ah Research Academy of Islamic Finance (ISRA)portal. All ARI and faculty members who interested to participate can submit their papers accordingly.

CALL FOR PAPERS

We seek papers that improve on the best academic research or the best practical applications, which include current applications and/or potential applications. Papers that address emerging issues, potential problems and the strategies to deal with it are also very much welcomed. Articles should be between 3,000 to 5,000 words in length and should adhere to the Journal’s submission guidelines.


The Journal’s topics of interest includes, but is not be limited to the following:

1. Fundamentals of Islamic finance;
2. Fundamentals of Shari`ah’
3. Islamic banking;
4. Islamic capital market;
5. Islamic money market;
6. Islamic insurance/takaful;
7. Fundamentals of Shari`ah and Fiqh and their application to modern finance;
8. Corporate governance from the Islamic perspectives;
9. Corporate Social Responsibility form the Islamic perspectives;
10. Shari`ah-compliant investment;
11. Shari`ah-compliant risk management;
12. Islamic derivatives;
13. Sukuk, Islamic securities, Islamic funds and Islamic unit trusts;
14. Islamic venture capital;
15. Dynamism and mechanism of Islamic jurisprudence in the light of modern finance;
16. Islamic economics and monetary system;
17. Islamic wealth management;
18. Islamic accounting; and
19. Shari`ah auditing.


Please send your manuscript to:

Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki
Editor-in-Chief
International Shari`ah Research Academy of Islamic Finance (ISRA)
2nd Floor, Annexe Block
Menara Tun Razak
Jalan Raja Laut
50350 Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA
( israjournal@isra.myThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

International Research Grant in Social Sciences Research

This internet posting is reproduced for the benefit of ARI researchers. Staff and post-graduate students may want to explore this opportunity.

Hermes Fellowships for Foreign Researches in Humanities and Social Sciences

Filed under Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Research Funds, South Africa
Hermes Fellowships were designed to offer young and promising foreign researchers in the humanities and social sciences the chance to be visiting researchers in French universities and research centers. This program is open to researchers from: China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and South Africa.

The Hermes Program is financed by the French Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Education and Research, the Department of Human and Social Sciences of the National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS), and the Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme (FMSH).

Hermes fellowships are granted for 3 to 9 month periods. They were designed in order to give foreign researchers the opportunity to:

• carry out an individual research project within a hosting laboratory;
• become part of French and European scientific networks;
• set up lasting partnerships between their home institutions and the hosting institutions in France

The hosting laboratories in France – university research units or research institutions in Paris or elsewhere in the country – are chosen by the invited researchers. This decision is made in agreement with the fellowship selection committee and the scientific board of the FMSH. This joint process is intended to help candidates make the necessary contacts.

Scientific Fields Covered by the Hermes Program

All disciplines in the humanities and social sciences are eligible. However, priority is given to research projects addressing issues facing the contemporary world and those that have an interdisciplinary dimension.

Application deadlines: March 31 and September 30 of the current year

Scientific director: Hinnerk Bruhns
Program administrator: Neli Dobreva

Web Link

http://www.msh-paris.fr/en/research/mobility/hermes-fellowships/

Congratulations Dr Nizal

ARI wishes to congratulate one of ARI's research fellows Associate Professor Dr Mohd Nizal Hanif for his recent promotion to an associate professor.
Since his research interest is in the area of finance and capital market, he is also the head of the same-title SIG. Another congratulatory note is also in order for the recent publication of his new book. Congratulations and may you produce more in years to come.

New Openings for Young Researcher Scheme at ARI

ARI wishes to invite suitable candidates to apply for new 2011 positions of Young Researcher Scheme (YRS) at ARI. Those with first degree qualifications can pursue their Master by Research program whilst those who are in their final year of Master Program (or a Master graduate) can continue with their PhD program. Currently openings are in four specific areas namely: (1) Islamic Accounting & Muamalat,
(2) Islamic Financial Criminology, (3) Financial Criminology & Forensic Accounting and (4)Islamic Finance and Shariah. The post graduate program will start in July 2011. Those who want to know details, please contact ARI at 603 5544 4924 or email normah645@salam.uitm.edu.my

Integrated Case Study Workshop

A two-day workshop has been organized by the Faculty of Accountancy to discuss on approaches and techniques of developing successful case study write up Malaysian companies. In the past, our usage of the case study has been confined to Western cases. It is timely that more Malaysian cases be showcased and discussed in class. The integrated case study is one of the courses offered to the accounting undergraduates at the university. For the Accountancy track, a case study book has been written and launched by the Ministry of Higher Education in early 2010.

Master by Research in Islamic Financial Criminology at ARI

ARI and the Faculty of Accountancy are calling for good and interested undergraduates to undertake a Master by Research program at the institute. The two year program focuses on specific research areas which involve Islamic Accounting, Shariah Audit, Islamic Financial Criminology, Anti Money Laundering, Counter Terrorism Financing. Prior to embarking on the research project, candidates will be exposed to three non-credit courses such as (i) Research Methodology, (ii) Quantitative and qualitative data analysis and (iii) Seminar in Islamic Financial Criminology