3DiscoverFEATURESOASCIS International ConferenceThe Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Centre for Islamic Studies (SOASCIS) of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) successfully organised its inaugural International Conference on ‘Envisioning the Future of the Islamic World in the Era of Uncertainties: Views of Scholars’ from the 15th to 17th September 2011 at the Senate Room of Chancellor Hall. The SOASCIS International Conference was officiated by Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Duli Pengiran Muda Haji ‘Abdul ‘Azim ibni Kebawah Duli Yang Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu‘izzaddin Waddaulah.Sixteen esteemed scholars from Brunei Darussalam and overseas institutions were invited to present their papers in plenary sessions, and speak in the roundtable discussion sessions. They included:The distinguished speakers from Southeast Asia, Oceania, Middle East, Europe and North America spoke on the subthemes, including ‘The future of education in the Muslim world’, ‘The future of development in Muslim world’ and ‘The role of ethics and spirituality in the era of uncertainties’, and participated in the Roundtable Discussion sessions on ‘Islam and the West’ and ‘The role of Islam in Southeast Asia in the era of uncertainties’.The SOASCIS International Conference brought together Islamic scholars and experts to identify contemporary aspects and issues in the era of uncertainties that need to be studied academically and from the Islamic perspective. The gathering also focused on strenghthening the roles of Islamic scholars and institutions in addressing problems in the community and among Muslims, and creating awareness and preparation for all Islamic institutions and Muslims of their roles and functions in facing the era of uncertainties. It also discussed effective Islamic methods and approaches in facing and addressing various aspects and issues encountered by Muslims.Papers presented by the scholars in the International Conference are expected to be published by 2012. Apart from the publication, it is also anticipated that the invited scholars will continue to contribute to SOASCIS through its Advisory Board, and the joint supervision of graduate students, as well as collaborative research in areas of mutual interests. SOASCIS is a research centre, newly-established following His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s Titah during UBD’s 22nd Convocation in September 2010, with a mission to generate Islamic experts and scholars capable of and renowned for exploring contemporary issues in the framework of Islamic world view and values, and appreciating and understanding Islam in daily life from the political, economic and social perspectives. This is in line with the vision to develop SOASCIS into a world-class centre of applied Islamic knowledge and values, and Islamic intellectual resources.• Yang Berhormat Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman, Minister of Religious Affairs of Brunei Darussalam• Tan Sri Professor Dr Muhammad Kamal Hassan, Eminent Visiting Professor (as Advisor) of SOASCIS• Dr Ahmad Totonji, International Institute of Islamic Thought, USA• Professor Datuk Dr Osman Bakar, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia• Dr Tim Winter @ Abdal Hakim Murad, Cambridge University, UK• Dato’ Dr Muhammad Afifi Al-Akiti, Oxford University, UK• Professor Dr Sultan Abu-Orabi, Association of Arab Universities, Jordan• Professor Dr Omar Hasan Kasule, King Fahd Medical City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia• Professor Dr Carl Ernst, University of North Carolina, USA• Professor Dato’ Dr Mohd Azmi Omar, International Islamic University, Malaysia• Professor Dr Mulyadhi Kartanegara, Universitas Islam Negara, Republik Indonesia• Dr Mohamad Abdalla, Griffith University, Australia• Dr Imtiyaz Yusuf, Assumption University, Thailand• Dr Hussin Mutalib, National University of Singapore• Sheikh Ali Saleh Muhammad Ali Jaber• Sheikh Imran Nazar Hosein
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