Sejahtera Academic Framework (SAF)

116 115 The Islamic Fundamental Knowledge courses have continued to be a core part of the formal academic programmes of the University. Envisioned to provide Muslims who not only have the competencies the public regarded are part of the good Muslim (such as Qur’ān recitation and congregational prayers leader), the main thrust of the Islamic Fundamental Knowledge courses are to provide a philosophical grounding on Islamic thoughts and principles, paving the way for Islamisation in their areas of studies, and a philosophical shift from a heritage Muslim to being an informed an active Muslim learner and scholar. Tilāwah Al-Qur’ān is a competency based course, where a student needs to meet a minimum competency requirement. A student who has met the minimum competency requirement (based on Tilāwah placement test) will be exempted. A student who is exempted or has completed the minimum competency requirements is given the opportunity to obtain a certificate of competency by fulfilling entire competency level; that will be added value especially for those wishing to offer tilāwah classes to others. This tilāwah competency certificate may also be offered to the public. The implementation of Tilāwah Al-Qur’ān course differs from normal courses in that fixed class meeting time will be transformed to a more open system where students will be assigned with a particular teacher until he/she reaches the required minimal competency. Assessment may be done on selected intervals (not just end of semester). Students progress at their own pace; hence they may complete this as fast as 1 assessment cycle, or as long as they are enrolled. Arabic in IIUM is not just Arabic. The thrust of Arabic in IIUM is towards understanding the Qur’ān and related materials, with the aim of appreciating the Islamic linguistic elements. Towards that end, the UniCORE 2020 offers Arabic as Quranic Language, such that the knowledge gained via the courses become means to interact with the Qur’ān . As per tilāwah , the department is encouraged to extend their offerings for additional levels, with an option for additional types of certification. Islamic Fundamental Knowledge Leadership and Living Skills IIUM has always prided itself on being an Islamic university that nurtures leaders at all levels of societies. From the family institutions to nations across the globe, our alumni have been prominent. This tradition will continue. Although leadership is a trait to be nurtured in all programmes, the University will also have designated UniCORE courses, if nothing else than to wake-up the slumbering leaders inside the students. Skills and sports courses are to be taken as part of the University offering a holistic and balanced educational programme. This will nurture some of the JERIHAS elements in the students. At a pragmatic level, the skills courses may enable the students an alternative income avenue in the future should they so desire. The credit for these courses may be earned by taking the courses in the conventional manner or by actively engaging in activities and projects directly related to the courses, e.g., student athletes who are in the University sports teams competing at a certain level, students leaders at Mahallah or University levels. A major change in the approach of implementation of these courses will be offering modules on 3 levels of competencies: basic, intermediate and advanced, and being flexible in terms of the pathway taken to complete this and the scheduling of the classes. It is aspired that this will also lead to additional certification of competencies, giving value-added to the students once they have graduated from the University. Malay Language continues to be compulsory for undergraduates who do not have adequate competency in Malay language. Under UniCORE 2020 a major change is to offer the language based on competency and not on nationality. This will afford the department to offer other elective Malay language courses that may be taken by any student, either for the credit or for additional certification. Tazkiyah an-nafs , or the purification of the soul, should be an on-going effort by all, more so if one is a practicing Muslim. As much as the students are young adults, they shall continue to benefit from a structured and safe environment to improve their relationship with Allah. Hence the usrah courses are part of their undergraduate experience. Having a formal usrah structure will enable the University an avenue to nurture the spiritual development of these young adults, some of whom come from less advantaged backgrounds spiritually. Towards this end, elements such as the selection of nuqaba’ and the monitoring of the activities should be taken seriously by everyone. The usrah courses are not to be taken as a checklist to fulfill graduation requirements, but as a serious endeavour towards becoming better Muslims who will become more committed to their role of khalīfah .