By Maryam Iman Binti Norhashimi
GOMBAK, 6 October 2020: In an effort to produce balanced personalities among university graduates to enhance their roles as human beings in society, IIUM yesterday (5 October) presented the Sejahtera Academic Framework (SAF), the first ever to be introduced to the new batch of IIUM students.
Deputy Rector (Academic and Industrial Linkages), Prof. Dr. Ahmad Faris Ismail made this announcement during Ta’aruf Session, Semester 1, 2020/2021, with the new students at IIUM Cultural Centre (ICC).
Sejahtera is a multi-faced Malay term that does not neatly lend itself to the simple English translation of “well-being”. Rather, it is a concoction of delicate spices that balances the term itself; spiritual, physico-psychological, intellectual, cognitive, cultural, ethical, emotional, ecological, economic and societal, according to Prof. Dr. Ahmad Faris.
In conjunction with creating a coherent ‘jami’ah insaniah’ system, “the SAF puts together various elements that are part of a higher education institution.”
“Although students flock to campus initially to go through an academic programme, SAF views the entire experience together with formal curriculum as the core towards students embodying Insan Sejahtera,” Dr. Ahmad Faris explained.
“In particular, SAF highlights the roles that each element plays in embracing holistic human beings, where the university refuses to merely produce employable graduates.”
He further explained that SAF is a system that will provide an educational experience that is transformational, leading to change of attitude and worldview, personal-psychological growth and a successful adaptation, while building upon the personal experiences of the students that truly occurs in a flourishing Islamic environment.
“At the end of the day, we will all be successful in humanising education at IIUM,” Dr. Ahmad Faris said. ***