Sejahtera Academic Framework (SAF)

20 19 The graduate attributes acronym of KhAIR is Arabic for “good.” The Qur’ān has used the term “al-khair” or its plural form “khairaat” in many instances, emphasizing that doing good is a mission for everyone. Kh A I R and the 7 IIUM Missions M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A khalīfah’s role is to lead humankind to the right path of Allah which is al- ṣ irā ṭ al-mustaqīm as well as to become an exemplar to others. All human beings regardless of their beliefs and religions are appointed as khalīfah . One of the important tasks for khalīfahs to do then is the ‘imārat al-kawn (construction of the universe), to administer, manage, develop, and flourish. Essentially, this attribute speaks to the nature of the graduates who effect change and advancement in humanity via the knowledge, wisdom, and skill sets that they have gained. IIUM graduates aim to do good, and will do good, to all people regardless of creed; and to do good for all the worlds - nature, animals and the built environment. The world is an amānah that Allah has given humankind to be fulfilled, bringing peace and harmony to the world. Amānah is also an adjective to describe our graduates who are ethical, trustworthy and conscientious in executing their responsibilities in any sphere of life. The pursuit of knowledge in the name of Allah is sacred. The learners who fulfil the amānah of knowledge become scholars, who should be the inheritors of the prophets. Iqra’ is not just about being knowledgeable in a specific area of study, but this attribute also pertains to one who expands on the culture of iqra' , spreading knowledge to others, and imparting hikmah wisdom. KHALĪFAH AMĀNAH IQRA’ BISMIRABBIKALAZI KHALAQ RAḤMATAN LIL- ʿ ĀLAMĪN Khalīfah Amānah Iqra’ Raḥmatan lil- ʿ Ālamīn A FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE Sejahtera is a multi-faceted Malay term that does not neatly lend itself to the simple English translation of “well-being.” It is a delicate balancing of the 10 SPICES that make up Sejahtera : spiritual, physico-psychological, intellectual, cognitive, cultural, ethical, emotional, ecological, economic, and societal. The SAF puts together the various elements that are major parts of a higher education institution to create a coherent “ jami’ah insāniah ” system. Cognisant that although students flock to campus initially to go through an academic programme, the SAF views the entire student experience in addition to the formal curriculum as core towards the students becoming and embodying Insān Sejahtera . Therefore, the SAF highlights the roles that each element plays in nurturing holistic human beings - the University refuses to be a degree mill intent only on simply producing employable graduates without “soul”. The generic SAF is applicable to all IIUM academic programmes - from Foundation to Doctoral levels. The relevant diagram is to be read together with the Guiding Principles detailed out in Section 4. SAF is not simply about academic programmes. SAF is about putting together the elements of IIUM as a higher education institution that will provide for an educational experience that is transformational. Transformative education leads to change of attitude and worldview, personal psychological growth, and successful adaptation while building upon the personal experiences of the learner. SAF ensures that this occurs in a flourishing Islamic environment. Indeed, SAF is also a reminder for the community to engage in activities that are well-aligned to the right path, and to be united and stronger together, for becoming an excellent academic institution is an obligation of a university bearing the term “Islamic” in its name. SAF is not about achieving certain statistics, chasing some “objective” numbers purported as indicators of quality, or about going after accolades, especially the commercial ones. SAF is a testament of the University’s commitment to the true nature of education - that of discovering and propagating knowledge that would bring about change and advancement to the self and to society. In our world, knowledge that would bring us, as complete persons closer to our Allah Rabbul-ālamin . Preamble