The University of Reading (UoR), University of Reading Malaysia (UoRM) and the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on 24th October 2017. The MoA is aimed at reinforcing collaborative efforts between the three parties for the benefit of the staff and students at these educational institutions.

INCEIF President & CEO Dato’ Dr. Mohd Azmi bin Omar signed on behalf of INCEIF, while UoR and UoRM were represented by UoRM Provost Professor Dr. Tony Downes. The signing took place at the INCEIF campus in Kuala Lumpur.

The universities and INCEIF have a longstanding collaborative relationship that began in 2008. With the signing of this MoA, the three parties will work closely together to foster opportunities for research, publications and colloquia, promote staff and student exchanges for their personal and professional development, develop programmes, exchange academic materials and publications and provide various cultural and intellectual enrichment opportunities for staff and students, to name a few.

Among others, UoRM’s Henley Business School began offering the university’s MSc Investment Banking and Islamic Finance (MSc IBIF) to students with INCEIF’s Professional Certificate in Islamic Finance, specialising in Islamic Capital Market, in September 2017. This specialist 12-month Master’s programme provides students with the opportunity to develop and demonstrate their understanding and detailed foundation of both the theory and practical applications of modern finance both in conventional and Islamic jurisdictions.

According to Professor Dr. Downes, “This MoA takes our collaboration with INCEIF to the next level. Islamic Finance is such a thriving industry and, with the university’s presence in Malaysia, we are well poised to tap into the opportunities presented here to equip our students with specialist skills and knowledge to pursue rewarding careers in a diverse range of fields.”

Dato’ Mohd Azmi said: “I am happy to note that the University of Reading, in particular Henley Business School, has continued its collaboration with INCEIF through its Malaysian branch. Our unique mission is to elevate and advance the practice of Islamic finance globally. By joining forces with Henley Business School, a triple internationally accredited school, we are ensuring that our Islamic Finance postgraduate studies have acess to a wider audience globally. INCEIF is also on track to be the Islamic Finance business school of choice.”

The modules to be delivered specifically by INCEIF under the MSc IBIF programme are:

• The Principle of Islamic Commercial Jurisprudence which is to be delivered at the UoRM EduCity campus in Johor the first semester of studies
• Risk Management for Islamic Financial Institutions which will be delivered by INCEIF at the INCEIF campus
• Islamic Banking Practices which will be delivered by INCEIF at the INCEIF campus

UoRM will deliver the following Islamic finance and investment banking modules at the UoRM campus: Islamic Finance Modules:

• Islamic Capital Markets
• Design, Implementation and Risk Aspects of Islamic Financial Products
• Financial Analysis of Islamic Financial Institutions

Investment Banking Modules:

• Securities, Futures and Options
• Fixed Income and Equity Investments
• Financial Markets
• Introductory Quantitative Methods
• Corporate Finance

About INCEIF
INCEIF was set up by Bank Negara Malaysia in 2005 to develop human capital and knowledge leadership for the global Islamic finance industry. Apart from its academic programmes, which are Masters of Islamic Finance Practice, MSc in Islamic Finance and PhD in Islamic Finance, INCEIF also offers customised executive training programmes and industry-focused applied research in line with its vision to be the knowledge and thought leader in Islamic finance. Since 2015, INCEIF’s research has been ranked 1st in Malaysia among the higher education institutions in the Research Papers in Economics (RePec) rankings. We are also the only institution to have the research of five professors recognised by RePec, among the top 30 academics in Malaysia. We are ranked 40th in Asia as a university. Within the Financial Economics & Finance Department category, defined by REPEC, we are ranked 30th in the world.

INCEIF’s curriculum, developed from its research and with practical subject expertise from industry players, is used and adopted worldwide by various academic institutions. INCEIF faculty members, who are globally respected among the Islamic finance academia and industry, have a combined wealth of experience and diversity.

For more information, visit www.inceif.org