A representative body of the ministers of higher education and research from Islamic countries agreed, during a meeting held in the last week of November in Azerbaijan, to expand higher education cooperation with Central Asian countries.
The decision took inspiration from an earlier high-level meeting of foreign ministers of Islamic nations, held in Kazakhstan on 29 June this year, which adopted an 'Action Plan for Cooperation with Central Asia'.
The plan aims to increase coordination between the countries of Central Asia and other member nations of the Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in higher education, research, health and economy.
To kick-start greater cooperation, the OIC's Pakistan-based science committee, COMSTECH, signed a memorandum of understanding with Baku State University of Azerbaijan. The memorandum was signed on 24 November during a ceremony held at the university's campus in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
"Within the framework of this memorandum of understanding, we shall facilitate exchange of postgraduate students and university researchers, assist in university teacher qualification improvement, and start joint projects besides organising joint conferences on current issues and trends in university-level research," Atta-ur-Rahman, the former chief of Pakistan's Higher Education Commission and current head of COMSTECH, told University World News.
More on the University World News site
Source: University World News, Issue No: 0201, 11 December 2011
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Tampilkan postingan dengan label Agama. Tampilkan semua postingan
12 Desember 2011
02 Maret 2011
Universities Need to Challenge Islamism
Universities around the world have failed to do enough to confront Islamism on campus when they are one of the prime targets for recruitment. GEORGE READINGS argues that universities need to ensure they treat Islamist intimidation of students as similar to racism or other forms of abuse.
When Umar Farouq Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate a bomb on board a flight to Detroit on Christmas Day 2009, attention was immediately focused on his time as a student in London. In particular, during his studies at University College London, he had posted fantasies about engaging in violent jihad to online discussion forums and, as president of the college's Islamic Society, invited a variety of radical speakers to take part in a 'War on Terror' week on campus.
Abdulmutallab's case is not exceptional. No fewer than 15 individuals implicated in terrorist plots and attacks have had some link to British universities.
Despite the increased awareness of the dangers of extremist activity on campuses in the months following Abdulmutallab's attempted attack, extraordinary events were taking place on another campus just across London, at City University.
Although no violence resulted, a handful of extremists were able to take control of the student Islamic Society and use it as a platform to spread violently intolerant views. They also intimidated gay, Jewish and Muslim students who disagreed with their views, undermining their basic rights and liberties. Members of the society even used its website to post messages supportive of the al-Qaeda linked preacher Anwar al-Awlaki.
More on the University World News site
Source: University World News, Issue No: 0160, 27 February 2011
When Umar Farouq Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate a bomb on board a flight to Detroit on Christmas Day 2009, attention was immediately focused on his time as a student in London. In particular, during his studies at University College London, he had posted fantasies about engaging in violent jihad to online discussion forums and, as president of the college's Islamic Society, invited a variety of radical speakers to take part in a 'War on Terror' week on campus.
Abdulmutallab's case is not exceptional. No fewer than 15 individuals implicated in terrorist plots and attacks have had some link to British universities.
Despite the increased awareness of the dangers of extremist activity on campuses in the months following Abdulmutallab's attempted attack, extraordinary events were taking place on another campus just across London, at City University.
Although no violence resulted, a handful of extremists were able to take control of the student Islamic Society and use it as a platform to spread violently intolerant views. They also intimidated gay, Jewish and Muslim students who disagreed with their views, undermining their basic rights and liberties. Members of the society even used its website to post messages supportive of the al-Qaeda linked preacher Anwar al-Awlaki.
More on the University World News site
Source: University World News, Issue No: 0160, 27 February 2011
31 Januari 2011
Islamic World: More Science in Higher Education
Ameen Amjad Khan
Higher education and science and technology ministers from member countries of the Jeddah-based Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) have decided unanimously to make curricula in universities of member states more science-oriented.
At the 14th meeting of the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), which concluded in the Pakistan capital Islamabad on 13 January, representatives of various organisations including universities agreed to increase science and technology human resource development, establish centres of excellence in universities and promote university-industry collaboration.
As well as 110 delegates from 24 international science and higher education institutions, 26 ministers of science and higher education from Pakistan, Iran, Jordan, Egypt, Malaysia, Bangladesh and other countries of the OIC participated in the meeting.
The gathering also emphasised the need to provide enough resources to foster a culture of competitive research in member countries' universities.
"We can make knowledge-based economies only through a research-based education system which focuses on scientific innovation and technological advancement," said Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, inaugurating the meeting on 11 January.
More on the University World News site
Source: University World News, Issue No: 0154, 16 January 2011
Higher education and science and technology ministers from member countries of the Jeddah-based Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) have decided unanimously to make curricula in universities of member states more science-oriented.
At the 14th meeting of the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), which concluded in the Pakistan capital Islamabad on 13 January, representatives of various organisations including universities agreed to increase science and technology human resource development, establish centres of excellence in universities and promote university-industry collaboration.
As well as 110 delegates from 24 international science and higher education institutions, 26 ministers of science and higher education from Pakistan, Iran, Jordan, Egypt, Malaysia, Bangladesh and other countries of the OIC participated in the meeting.
The gathering also emphasised the need to provide enough resources to foster a culture of competitive research in member countries' universities.
"We can make knowledge-based economies only through a research-based education system which focuses on scientific innovation and technological advancement," said Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, inaugurating the meeting on 11 January.
More on the University World News site
Source: University World News, Issue No: 0154, 16 January 2011
23 November 2009
Isalmic World: Plan to Reform Nations’ Universities
Wagdy Sawahel
The 57 Islamic states have approved a plan to upgrade their universities as a means of achieving world-class status, as well as reforming them to become "functional developmental institutes" providing valuable resources for business, industry and society.
The plan was announced at a workshop, Achieving Excellence in Higher Education, in Ifrane in Morocco earlier this month. It was organised by the Islamic development bank of the 57 members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and Al-Akhawayn University. The conference consists of countries from the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, Caucasus, Balkans, Southeast Asia and South Asia.
The aim of the plan is to build a critical mass of world-class scientists and technologists in targeted science and technology areas, while also promoting relevant research and development outcomes for the private sector.
Fifteen institutions, five from Africa, Asia and the Arab world, were identified to carry out the upgrades and reform, and to promote scientific research in agriculture, nanotechnology and information and communication technologies.
More on the University World News site
Source: University World News, Issue No: 0101 15 November 2009
The 57 Islamic states have approved a plan to upgrade their universities as a means of achieving world-class status, as well as reforming them to become "functional developmental institutes" providing valuable resources for business, industry and society.
The plan was announced at a workshop, Achieving Excellence in Higher Education, in Ifrane in Morocco earlier this month. It was organised by the Islamic development bank of the 57 members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and Al-Akhawayn University. The conference consists of countries from the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, Caucasus, Balkans, Southeast Asia and South Asia.
The aim of the plan is to build a critical mass of world-class scientists and technologists in targeted science and technology areas, while also promoting relevant research and development outcomes for the private sector.
Fifteen institutions, five from Africa, Asia and the Arab world, were identified to carry out the upgrades and reform, and to promote scientific research in agriculture, nanotechnology and information and communication technologies.
More on the University World News site
Source: University World News, Issue No: 0101 15 November 2009
03 April 2009
Golput: Halal atau Haram?
Muhammad Yajid Kalam
Fenomena golput terus meningkat. Kondisi ini tampaknya mulai mengkhawatirkan banyak pihak, terutama para elite politik. Tingginya angka golput melemahkan legitimasi kekuasaan yang diperoleh para elite kekuasaan politik. Fenomena ini membawa sebagian elite politik menarik sisi agama untuk berbicara tentang golput.
Menurut Konstitusi
Dalam konstitusi Indonesia, memilih dan dipilih adalah hak bukan kewajiban. Berbeda dengan konstitusi Amerika yang menempatkan memilih sebagai hak dan kewajiban. Bila memilih dan dipilih adalah hak, siapa pun bebas untuk mempergunakan ataupun melepaskan haknya tersebut. Warga negara Indonesia dijamin oleh konstitusi kebebasannya untuk mempergunakan ataupun melepaskan hak memilih itu. Bila orang memilih golput artinya ia melepaskan haknya. Melepaskan hak bukanlah kejahatan. Siapa pun yang golput dilindungi konstitusi Indonesia.
Menurut Syariat Islam
Memilih dan dipilih dalam masalah ini berkaitan dengan kepemimpinan. Islam
mengharuskan umatnya mengangkat pemimpin. Pengangkatan pemimpin adalah kewajiban (fardu) menurut syariat. Dengan demikian, bila umat Islam tidak mengangkat
pemimpin artinya mereka melanggar syariat. Namun, mengangkat pemimpin adalah fardu kifayah bukan fardu ain. Mengangkat pemimpin adalah kewajiban yang dikenakan kepada seluruh anggota komunitas masyarakat, namun cukup dilakukan sebagiannya saja. Dengan demikian, tidak memilih atau golput yang dilakukan sebagian masyarakat Indonesia tidak menjadi dosa selama ada anggota masyarakat yang lain yang melaksanakan kewajiban memilih.
Politisasi Halal-Haram
Urusan golput tidak lepas dari urusan politik. Semakin tinggi golput semakin rendah legitimasi elite politik pemegang kekuasaan hasil pemilihan. Dengan demikian, menurunkan tingkat golput adalah kepentingan politik. Bila dikaitkan dengan permintaan fatwa haram atas golput, hal ini sebenarnya merupakan politisasi agama, membuat agama sebagai alat politik. Dengan demikian, masalah sebenarnya bukan halal dan haram, namun perilaku elite politik. Bila golput disikapi elite politik dengan meminta fatwa haram, elite politik sedang berusaha menutupi masalah sebenarnya. Mereka tidak mau menyadari dan tidak mengakui kesalahannya yang membuat masyarakat kesal dan tidak memercayai mereka lagi.
Lebih lengkap baca: Pikiran Rakyat Online, 3 April 2009
Fenomena golput terus meningkat. Kondisi ini tampaknya mulai mengkhawatirkan banyak pihak, terutama para elite politik. Tingginya angka golput melemahkan legitimasi kekuasaan yang diperoleh para elite kekuasaan politik. Fenomena ini membawa sebagian elite politik menarik sisi agama untuk berbicara tentang golput.
Menurut Konstitusi
Dalam konstitusi Indonesia, memilih dan dipilih adalah hak bukan kewajiban. Berbeda dengan konstitusi Amerika yang menempatkan memilih sebagai hak dan kewajiban. Bila memilih dan dipilih adalah hak, siapa pun bebas untuk mempergunakan ataupun melepaskan haknya tersebut. Warga negara Indonesia dijamin oleh konstitusi kebebasannya untuk mempergunakan ataupun melepaskan hak memilih itu. Bila orang memilih golput artinya ia melepaskan haknya. Melepaskan hak bukanlah kejahatan. Siapa pun yang golput dilindungi konstitusi Indonesia.
Menurut Syariat Islam
Memilih dan dipilih dalam masalah ini berkaitan dengan kepemimpinan. Islam
mengharuskan umatnya mengangkat pemimpin. Pengangkatan pemimpin adalah kewajiban (fardu) menurut syariat. Dengan demikian, bila umat Islam tidak mengangkat
pemimpin artinya mereka melanggar syariat. Namun, mengangkat pemimpin adalah fardu kifayah bukan fardu ain. Mengangkat pemimpin adalah kewajiban yang dikenakan kepada seluruh anggota komunitas masyarakat, namun cukup dilakukan sebagiannya saja. Dengan demikian, tidak memilih atau golput yang dilakukan sebagian masyarakat Indonesia tidak menjadi dosa selama ada anggota masyarakat yang lain yang melaksanakan kewajiban memilih.
Politisasi Halal-Haram
Urusan golput tidak lepas dari urusan politik. Semakin tinggi golput semakin rendah legitimasi elite politik pemegang kekuasaan hasil pemilihan. Dengan demikian, menurunkan tingkat golput adalah kepentingan politik. Bila dikaitkan dengan permintaan fatwa haram atas golput, hal ini sebenarnya merupakan politisasi agama, membuat agama sebagai alat politik. Dengan demikian, masalah sebenarnya bukan halal dan haram, namun perilaku elite politik. Bila golput disikapi elite politik dengan meminta fatwa haram, elite politik sedang berusaha menutupi masalah sebenarnya. Mereka tidak mau menyadari dan tidak mengakui kesalahannya yang membuat masyarakat kesal dan tidak memercayai mereka lagi.
Lebih lengkap baca: Pikiran Rakyat Online, 3 April 2009
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