Seminar on Higher Education

Towards an Integrated Model of Higher Education was the topic of BIITs latest seminar held on
June 27, 2015 in the conference hall of BIIT, Dhaka.
M Abdul Aziz, Executive Director of Bangladesh
Institute of Islamic Thought (BIIT) was the keynote
speaker in the seminar. He is currently a PhD
Fellow, Kulliyyaah of Education, International
Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Prof Dr Abdur
Rahman Anwari, Vice President (Research) of BIIT
chaired over the seminar where Prof Dr M Azizur
Rahman, Vice Chancellor of Uttara University and
Dr. Shamsuddin Ahmed, Visiting Professor of
Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, Islamic
University of Technology (OIC run University), Bangladesh were present as guests.
While providing an historical overview of higher
education, M Abdul Aziz asserted, the fundamental
aspect in the curriculum of the University of Paris
(1st European University over the world established
in the 12th century) was theology and the Paris
model had been emulated by the Oxford and
Cambridge universities in England, as well as
Harvard College, in Boston, USA. He found, the
foundation of curriculum at Harvard University
(the oldest educational institution in the United
States), since its formation until the 18th century
was theological. Then he focused how religious thought based education has been shifted to
rational and economic thought base.
He mentioned three points what facing Muslim higher
educational institutions as its challenges: (i). Eurocentric Education system in publication and recognition
instead of Islamic Academic Journals, (ii). Newcolonialism standard like East India Company in
university rankings instead of fundamental criteria set
by own countries and (iii). Most importantly,
Secularization and Dualism in Education instead of
focusing on religion, belief systems or TRUE
KNOWLEDGE that comes from Allah (swt).
Just mentioning few contemporary Islamic models of
higher education, Mr Aziz proposed another model of
higher education named Integrated Model of Higher
Education which is under researched.
Following Mr Azizs lecture, there was a Question
and Answer session in which the audience had the
opportunity to share their thoughts with him, ask him
relevant queries, and seek clarification regarding his
views.
The seminar began at 5:00 pm with the recitation of
verses from the Quran followed by a thankful address from chair.