ICONISHS2023 highlights Islamic Studies and Human Sciences researchers

By Syafiah Sakirin

GOMBAK, 2 August 2023: To showcase researchers’ ideas and findings in Islamic Studies and Human Sciences was the ultimate goal of the International Competition and Exhibition of Research and Innovation on Islamic Studies and Human Sciences 2023 (ICONISH2023) held on 25 July in IIUM Gombak. 

The event was organized by AbdulHamid AbuSulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (AHAS KIRKHS) in collaboration with the Faculty of Islamic Studies and Social Sciences (FPISS), University Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS).

In an interview with IIUMToday, the Programme Director of ICONISH2023 and Deputy Dean of Postgraduate and Responsible Research in AHAS KIRKHS, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Haslina Ibrahim, stated that the event provided a platform whereby researchers from Islamic Studies and Human Sciences were invited to exhibit their research ideas, methods, and findings and to receive recognition for their good works. 

“We hoped by doing this, everyone can learn from other researchers’ appropriate and useful methods,” she explained. 

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“There were many other research innovations and exhibitions, but most of them focused on Science and Technology, whilst Islamic Studies and Human Science areas have not been highlighted by the general public and other organizations,” she highlighted.

“By promoting such a competition and exhibition, we were able to create a greater understanding and awareness among the public that our researchers are as credible and competent as science and technology researchers,” she insisted as being the significance of the event.

When asked regarding the collaboration, she underlined that the event was supported well by USAS and the university has been collaborating with AHAS KIRKHS since 2021.

“They have contributed in terms of human resource by providing committees from USAS who were involved in the event,” she highlighted. 

When asked about the challenges faced, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Haslina shared that many agencies, private sectors, and government organizations do not see the importance of Islamic Studies and Human Sciences. 

“We can create machines and technologies, but we will not be able to make the best out of our scientific findings in terms of developing humans. For example, employers always look for potential employees with good soft skills, integrity, and good moral characteristics, and behaviors. Islamic Studies and Human Sciences are the areas that develop these aspects,” she explained. 

When asked about the benefits that can be obtained by the community from the event, she further shared that there were different communities that benefited by involving themselves in the programme.

“For postgraduate students, they were training themselves to talk about their research. They should explain and articulate their ideas to the public more instead of focusing on the writing aspect only,” she emphasized. 

With regards to the learned community, this exhibition enhanced their visibility. Lecturers or researchers had imparted their knowledge and specialization to others when collaborating with other researchers and students.

For interested stakeholders that came to the research exhibition, they were inspired to fund more research projects. 

In terms of achievements, the event received a positive response from funders and should be conducted on a bigger scale in future. According to her, many people promoted ICONISH2023 on many social media platforms when their participants and presenters won awards during the programme.

“People may not yet recognize how impactful the event is, but when we are consistent, we will see the fruits of our efforts, Inn Sha Allah,” she firmly stated. 

The Kulliyyah aspires ICONISH to be a trademark of AHAS KIRKHS. Therefore, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Haslina expressed her hope to continue organizing the event so that people will associate ICONISH with AHAS KIRKHS in future.***