News and photo by Dr. Mohd Fikri Sofi
PENANG, 4 March 2025: The Islamic Business School (IBS) and the Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) successfully conducted a workshop on finalizing research papers, aimed at assisting postgraduate students in enhancing their academic writing skills and preparing their research for oral presentation or viva voce. This workshop was specifically designed for the first cohort of students under the full sponsorship of Kementerian Agama (KEMENAG), The Republic of Indonesia, who are currently pursuing a Master in Islamic Finance and Banking (MIFB).
The workshop covered key aspects of academic writing, including structuring research papers, refining arguments, enhancing clarity, data collection procedures, justifying data analysis and techniques for excelling in viva voce sessions. Expert facilitators, including esteemed professors and experienced researchers from ISDEV, guided the participants through five comprehensive sessions. These facilitators included Assoc. Prof. Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad, Assoc. Prof. Dr Mohd Syakir Mohd Rosdi, Dr Azreen Hamiza Abdul Aziz, Dr Murni Yusoff, and Dr Azrin Ibrahim.
In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr Shahir Akram Hassan, the Director of ISDEV, emphasized the importance of conducting high-quality research and publishing impactful scholarly work. He encouraged students to ensure their research contributes meaningfully to the academic field while aligning with the objectives of Islamic development management and Islamic finance. Additionally, he highlighted ISDEV’s ongoing research on the role of Islamic management in organisations that adopt Islamic principles.
Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in hands-on activities such as peer review, research idea presentations, individualised feedback sessions, and discussions on common challenges in academic writing. The facilitators provided valuable insights into justifying research approaches, differentiating between quantitative and qualitative methodologies, key strategies for data analysis and effectively responding to examiner’s questions and comments.
One of the participants, Rizky Andrean, expressed his appreciation for the workshop, stating, “This session has been extremely beneficial in guiding us, KEMENAG students, through the final steps of preparing our research paper. The personalised feedback has given us the confidence to submit our work on time without hesitation.” A significant challenge for students is the requirement to complete their research papers within one semester, or four months, as part of the one-year dual-degree programme with Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN). This workshop was the final session in a series of five, conducted consecutively throughout their academic term.
The workshop concluded with a motivational session led by a distinguished academic, inspiring student to persist in their scholarly pursuits and contribute meaningfully to the fields of Islamic development management and Islamic finance. In his closing remarks, Programme Chair, Dr. Mohd Fikri Sofi expressed gratitude to ISDEV for the successful partnership and their willingness to host the upcoming UUM visit on behalf of the Dean of IBS. A token of appreciation was presented to ISDEV and each session’s facilitators at the end of the programme.
The event marks another significant step by IBS in fostering academic excellence and supporting postgraduate students in their research endeavours. Through continuous initiatives like this, UUM reaffirms its commitment to producing high-quality research and nurturing future scholars, with special attention to its international students. Rather than bidding farewell, the Director concluded with a heartfelt message, ‘Until we meet again in the future. God willing.’
