Model for UiTM's Institute of Forensic Science....

The formation of this new institute will certainly create a niche for UiTM. There are various models that we can benchmark. The University of Teesside (UK) for example has a forensic institute that establishes two "Crime Scene" houses, a digital lab, CSI lab, training rooms, moot court and several undergraduate and post graduate programs.
During her visit to the university's forensic lab in March 2010, Prof Dr Normah was briefed on the history of the institute and was taken to tour the various labs and Crime Scene houses. Seen here are two crime scene rooms

FRGS 2/2010

The FRGS grant is getting more competitive every year. The FRGS second cycle 2010 (FRGS 2/2010) saw more than 3500 applications for seven research clusters nemely Pure Sciences, Applied Sciences, Health Sciences, Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences, IT & Engineering and Natural Sciences & Heritage. The evaluation sessions were held from 26 to 29 July in Malacca. Applicants have to compete among themselves and only the best proposals were selected.
There's a tremendous increase in application by the young academics who are mainly in the "lecturers category". This is definitely a good sign for Malaysian universities. Interest towards research is increasing. One of the expected spinoffs of the FRGS research is an increase in indexed publication and improved citation rate for Malaysia as a country.....

Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting

The Emerald Publishing Group acquired one of UiTM's journal in August 2009. The journal was established by the Faculty of Accountancy & ARI in 2003. Effective June 2010, the Emerald group has taken over the responsibility of publishing the journal. ARI hopes the acquisition will result in increased readership and higher citation from the journal.

Talk on Bond Pricing Agency

Compared to the stock market, bonds are very much "low profile" in nature, particularly in this country. Nevertheless, the funds involved are enormous. The Sukuk bonds are within this category of bonds market. There are basically more than 2500 bond issuers in Malaysia. Today, to facilitate our finance SIG researchers, ARI invited a Bond Pricing Agency company to give a talk on the bonds market.
Mr Syah, the marketing manager, shared with us about the databases that his company has developed. ARI hopes to subscribe useful databases if there are sufficient demand from researchers (staff and Students)who wish to explore in this type of research...

Institute of Forensic Science in UiTM

Preparation is underway for the establishement of a new centre of excellence in UiTM: Institute of Forensic Science. The institute will see a strategic collaboration of experts and researchers from different faculties: medicine, applied sciences, law, accountancy & computer science. ARI will also be working closely with the new institute particularly in the area of financial criminology...

Thank You Professor Humayon Dar

ARI wishes to thank Prof Humayon Dar, CEO of BMB Islamic (UK) and an economic professor from the University of Laborough for an inspiring talk entitled "Sustanability of Islamic Financial Institutions in Current Financial Crisis".
Though a strong proponent of the Islamic Financial Institutions, Prof Dar gave a dynamic view of how and why Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs) should go beyond "Shariah Compliant". To remain competitive and attractive to other non-muslim prospects, Prof Dar suggested the need for IFIs to introduce reformation of their products or services. For example, IFIs should be thinking of innovating products that could alleviate poverty, enhance community service and to help the needy. Currently IFIs are expected to grow and reach the USD3 trillion market capitalization. To sustain within a highly competitive industry, IFIs must introduce reform and innovate. Prof Humayon Dar is a visiting professor at UiTM's Centre of Islamic Thought and Understanding (CITU).

Launching of the Integrated Case Study Book in Accounting

In view of the new "Halatuju" accounting curriculum, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) initiated a joint project to produce a Malaysian case study book for the newly introduced "Integrated Case Study" course.
What is interesting about the book is the collaborative effort shown by both accounting practitioners and academicians to write the cases. Basically, all the cases comprised of Malaysian companies who have given permission and consents for the authors to write about their practices. Once the cases were initially written, the groups invited case study experts from Harvard University and INTAN to further improve the case write ups. All in all, well done everyone. One of ARI's research associates, Dr Sharifah Khadijah Syed Agil is one of the authors of the case study book.

University-Industry Collaborative Enhancement Program

The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) launched the University-Industry Collaborative Enhancement Program in Putrajaya this morning. Basically, the collaboration is now grouped into nineteen clusters. University and industry experts will form collaborative projects with the objective of positioning Malaysia into a high income, developed nation as aspired by the Vision 2010. The program was launched by the Minister of Higher Education, Y Bht Dato' Seri Khaled Nordin. The launching was then followed by group MOUs between Malaysian universities and the industry. UiTM was represented by the vice chancellor, YBhg Dato Ir Dr Sahol Hamid

Welcome New Research Fellows and Associates

ARI wishes to welcome our new research fellows effective July 2010: Associate Prof Dr Ppk Wee Ching (Finance & Capital market); Dr Hilwani Hariri (Audit & governance); Associate Prof Dr Rohana Othman (Public Sector & financial management); Dr Nawal Kasim (Islamic Finance & Shariah Audit); Dr Intan Salwani (Accounting Information System); Assoc Prof Dr Ezani (Islamic Economics & Islamic Finance); Dr Siti Khadijah (Shariah)and Dr Halil Paino (Auditing & Forensic Accounting)

Forensic Accounting Seminar at AGC

ARI wishes to congratulate the Attorney General Chamber for organising a two-day conference on Practical Forensic Accounting in Financial Fraud Investigation. Prof Dr Syed Noh and Prof Dr Normah were invited as guest speakers on the first day of the conference today.
Some three hundred lawyers and legal officers attended the sessions. Whilst Prof Syed Noh presented an overview of forensic accounting, Prof Normah spoke on the use of forensic accounting in Financial Statement Fraud Investigation...