On May 23, 2024, the University of the Philippines, through its Institute of Islamic Studies (UP IIS), formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the American Open University (AOU). The signing ceremony was led by UP Diliman Chancellor Atty. Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II and AOU Board of Trustee Engr. Ossama Mohammad Suhail Alazzouni, with UP IIS Prof. Julkipli M. Wadi signing as a witness.
In his message, Chancellor Vistan congratulated UP IIS for achieving another milestone by expanding its global partnerships. The MOU with AOU will foster various academic activities based on equality and reciprocity. These activities include the exchange of faculty, researchers, and administrative staff; student exchanges; collaborative research projects; lectures and symposia; the exchange of academic information and materials; and other forms of academic cooperation.
Prof. Wadi expressed his gratitude to Chancellor Vistan and UP System President Angelo Jimenez for their unwavering support. He noted that this support is crucial as the Institute prepares to move to its new building, the New Institute of Islamic Studies Complex, expected to be completed by early 2025. Strengthening partnerships with local and international institutions, such as AOU, is a key part of this preparation.
The partnership with AOU was inaugurated with the “Seminar on Humanity and the Qur’an,” co-organized by the International Center for Social Research, Peace, and Development (ICSRPD) and AOU. The seminar highlighted the relevance of the Qur’an as a comprehensive guide for humanity and provided a platform for engaging discussions on the topic.
Engr. Ossama Al-Azzouni was one of the key speakers at the seminar, discussing the “Paradigm of Reforming.” He emphasized how the Qur’an can guide in redefining and reviving values within societal systems. Another notable speaker, Ustadh Ahmed Hamdeen Eissa, a respected Islamic scholar from Egypt and a Qur’an researcher at ICSRPD, lectured on humanity in relation to the Qur’an. He highlighted the importance of genuinely understanding and applying the teachings of the Qur’an.
The seminar included a question-and-answer session, allowing attendees to seek clarifications and deepen their understanding of the topics discussed. This interactive component was crucial in imparting vital lessons about humanity and the Qur’an.
Prof. Wadi mentioned that this seminar marks the beginning of many future engagements between UP IIS and AOU, as well as with other potential partners. He encouraged attendees to continuously engage with UP IIS’s new programs and activities, extending an invitation to visit the New Institute of Islamic Studies, the new home of IIS.
This partnership signifies a significant step forward for UP IIS, committing to enhanced academic collaborations and a broader exchange of knowledge and cultural understanding.
Present during the seminar were faculty, staff, and students from the UP IIS; members of the UP Muslim Students’ Association; seminarians from the Xaverian Missionaries; asatidz from the Islamic Studies, Call, and Guidance; members of the Philippine Coast Guard; and personnel from the ICSRPD.
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