By Mahadhir bin Monihuldin
GOMBAK, 27 March 2017: In the most recent edition of the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Ranking by Subject, IIUM was able to notch a placing in the worlds top 50 for the subject of theology, divinity and religious studies.
Such big news calls for inspiring feedback from the Dean of the Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (KIRKHS), Prof. Dr. Rahmah binti Ahmad H. Osman, who was the one who led the university to this achievement.
IIUM Today spoke with Prof. Rahmah to get her thoughts on IIUMs QS World University Ranking.
Asked about what she thinks is the significance of IIUM being ranked 46th in the entire world for the subject of theology, divinity and religious studies, she fully expressed the enormity of said feat.
œIn this subject specifically, we are not only number one in Malaysia, but also in South East Asia and the Islamic World as well, Prof. Rahmah said.
She felt it is a monumental achievement for IIUM and pointed out that despite people expecting universities in the Middle East to grab a higher placing, it was our university that came ahead of all other Islamic universities everywhere around.
How was Prof. Rahmah able to propel IRKHS to this achievement?
œThis is all the fruit of teamwork. Everybody now has come on board. We are moving towards a direction as a team and people arent going off course, Prof. Rahmah shares.
Academicians and staff members are working together as a collective whole, and Prof. Rahmah thinks this is the true purpose of the IRKHS Kulliyyah.
She said that while everywhere else in the world has one designated faculty for the humanities and another faculty for Islamic studies, IRKHS is the only Kulliyyah which combines both fields into one. It was done to unite people from two different expertise.
Because of IIUMs achievement in the QS World Ranking, Prof. Rahmah tells us that it has greatly enhanced the brand of IIUM. œOur brand is known and it has garnered the respect it deserves, she exerts.
IRKHS has received many universities and institutions from around the world – the United Kingdom, Â U.S.A, the Middle East – coming over to request for a collaboration with the Kulliyyah for all sorts of projects. This will only promote IIUMs name even further beyond.
But Prof. Rahmah also touched on the aspects in need of improvement to make IRKHS and IIUM even better.
œWe can no longer work in isolation, in silos,” she said. “This applies not only for members of the Kulliyyah, but also for the students of IRKHS and their clubs and societies as well.
She said that as of now, the IRKHS team is working to improve on other subjects of the Kulliyyah such as political science, history, and others.***