Chartered Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals (CIIF) today entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Jabatan Pendidikan Politeknik dan Kolej Komuniti (JPPKK), a department under the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia to develop more versatile and competent talents in the country that would contribute substantially to the Islamic Finance industry. The MOU exchange between both parties took place at Sama-Sama Hotel KL International Airport, represented by CIIF’s Grand Council Member, who is also Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Great Eastern Takaful Berhad, En Shahrul Azlan Shahriman and witnessed by YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the Minister of Higher Education.
Dr Azura Othman, CEO of CIIF highlighted that the MOU signifies a solid, strategic move to foster more meaningful partnerships and initiatives with JPPKK in promoting high quality talents in Islamic Finance among polytechnic and community college graduates in Malaysia.
“The MOU allows both JPPKK and CIIF to formally restructure and make facelift to the current curriculum of the Islamic Banking and Finance Diploma in polytechnics and community colleges. This paves way for remodelling of the diploma programme to professional qualification, which helps to improve graduates’ employability in turn,” emphasised Dr Azura Othman.
“CIIF looks forward to support by elevating the overall education system in terms of equipping the students with current yet practical knowledge and skills in the Islamic Banking and Finance field, as well as boosting the professional growth of the lecturers by providing them with the latest industry insights and teaching strategies.”
“We anticipate to bridge all existing gaps with the commencement of this MOU and further enhance the country’s economic ecosystem by filling up the talent gap across the industry and all business sectors. This is timely with the rising demand for Islamic Finance professionals, which is not only in the banking and finance industry but Halal industry as well,” added Dr Azura Othman further.
Besides talent development and curriculum mapping, the MOU also outlined other potential areas of cooperation including professional development, research, innovation, expertise sharing and other mutually agreed educational and training fields. The MOU is set to be effective for a period of three (3) years.
CIIF is recognised as one of the industry advisors and among the ones who were present at the MOU exchange ceremony organised by JPPKK.
CIIF is a professional body for qualified practitioners in the Islamic Finance industry established since 2015. To date, it has a total of 1,480 members worldwide. For more information about CIIF, please visit https://www.ciif-global.org.