DUBAI, Apr 21 – The Academy of Islamic Civilization (ATI), Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), successfully held a postgraduate international colloquium and alumni engagement programme in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 18 to 21 April 2025. The initiative aimed to promote academic excellence and foster international collaboration in the region, particularly with Arab Gulf countries.
The UTM delegation was led by Associate Professor Dr. Ahmad Che Yaacob, along with Dr. Diaya Ud Deen Al-Zitawi as the programme coordinator and Dr. Mohd Hafiz Mohd Dasar. The four-day programme included an International Colloquium, an Academic Writing Workshop, an ATI Alumni Engagement Session, and strategic meetings with the University of Sharjah and Al Qasimia University.
The colloquium was tailored for ATI’s doctoral students and served as a platform to present research proposals, receive academic feedback, and sharpen their scholarly communication skills. It also supported distance-learning students based in the region and welcomed participants from other UAE universities.
A key component of the programme was the alumni session, aimed at reconnecting with over 100 ATI graduates based in the UAE. ATI remains a preferred destination for regional students pursuing Islamic Studies and Islamic Civilization. The session encouraged alumni to contribute to institutional development through endowment initiatives and programme promotion.
Discussions with the University of Sharjah focused on launching a special postgraduate programme and exploring the potential establishment of a UTM satellite office in the region. Talks with Al Qasimia University also opened new opportunities for academic collaboration.
This initiative reaffirms ATI FSSH UTM’s commitment to expanding UTM’s global presence and cultivating strategic partnerships that strengthen the university’s academic influence across the region. Moving forward, ATI plans to formalise academic collaborations, expand research initiatives, and deepen alumni engagement, reinforcing its vision to become a regional hub for Islamic Civilization studies and a pillar of UTM’s internationalisation agenda.
“This initiative reflects ATI’s commitment to nurturing a global academic community. Our engagement in the UAE not only strengthens our alumni network but also opens new avenues for academic collaboration and knowledge exchange in the region.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Che Yaacob
Head of Delegation, Academy of Islamic Civilization (ATI), UTM
by: Dr. Diaya Ud Deen Al-Zitawi and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Fauzi Abu @ Hussin