Importance and support for Higher Education to play prominent roles in developing Social Enterprises
37 experts from 11 countries are joining the two-day discussion at the
AKEPT-WIEF SOCIAL ENTERPRISE FORUM – ‘Social Enterprise: Empowering the Future’
Kuala Lumpur : The World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Foundation’s WIEF Education Trust (WET) is jointly organising the AKEPT-WIEF Social Enterprise Forum, themed ‘Social Enterprise : Empowering the Future’ with the Higher Education Leadership Academy (AKEPT) and Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE), and in collaboration with the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). The Forum is to be held at the International Institute of Islamic Civilisation & Malay World (ISTAC), Kuala Lumpur on 22nd and 23rd October 2018.
‘Social entrepreneurship is not a new business model but its popularity is rapidly gaining momentum worldwide. It is a noble concept that can become an authentic instrument to help resolve social problems including the unequal distribution of opportunities that affect particularly those in the B40 income bracket’, said Tun Musa Hitam, Chairman of WIEF Foundation.
‘Our collaboration with AKEPT is not only a strategic one but also inevitable: we strive for world class recognition by undertaking programmes involving renowned and adept international speakers to promote the sharing of knowledge, and network building among participants,’ added Tun Musa Hitam.
According to the IIUM Rector, Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, a social, environmental or broader ethical mission is central to what enterprises do, why they exist, and to the achievement of which they give primacy over profit-making. This prioritization of social over economic value creation is often regarded as a key boundary separating social enterprise from traditional business ventures and those engaged in advanced forms of corporate social responsibility(CSR).
“Institutions of higher learning has the responsibility will need and to support research and growth in the development of social enterprises and this collaboration is timely for IIUM to venture as we can make valuable contributions towards promoting integration of SDGs in developing social enterprises.” He added.
In 2016, an online poll conducted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation ranked Malaysia 9th place on the list of best places to be a social entrepreneur, placing Malaysia not far from the likes of United Kingdom and Canada.
Universities are the anchors, shapers and innovators of our communities and countries. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) help to build an informed citizenry, more tolerant societies and more participative communities. They generate and nurture the skills, research and innovation that spur economic development and shape the future.
The AKEPT-WIEF Social Enterprise Forum is aimed to encourage active dialogues and sharing some of the good work already happening within universities, examine areas to strengthen the relationship between universities and social enterprises, and explore opportunities to support the development of social enterprise in universities.
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About the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Foundation
The WIEF Foundation is a non-profit organisation that is based in Kuala Lumpur. It organises the annual World Islamic Economic Forum, an international business platform which showcase business opportunities and runs programmes of the Foundation’s various initiatives. The WIEF was previously held in Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Kuwait, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates. It’s objective is to strengthen the ties of the Muslim and non-Muslim communities through the common language of business across the globe.
About IIUM
The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) is the manifestation of one of the major aspirations of Muslim scholars in Malaysia to have an Islamic university in the country to lead the Muslim ummah in all branches of knowledge. . The plan to establish IIUM was revealed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Fourth and current Prime Minister of Malaysia on 12 January 1982 after deliberating with the Education Minister, senior government officers and senior academics from local universities. The university was officially established on 20 May 1983 by the Government of Malaysia.
IIUM has several campuses that spread across different states of Malaysia; each providing specific fields of study. The main campus in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur houses the university’s administration. The other campuses are located in Kuantan, Kuala Lumpur, Gambang and Pagoh. The Kuala Lumpur Campus at Persiaran Duta now houses the International Institute of Islamic Civilisation and Malay World (ISTAC). The Centre for Foundation Studies is now in Gambang in the state of Pahang.
The population of IIUM students is 30,649 coming from 117 countries. To date IIUM has 85,854 alumni of which 73,677 are Malaysians and 12,177 International.
For media inquiry, kindly contact:
- Roslan bin Rusly (IIUM), roslanr@iium.edu.my, or 019-293 2984
- Soo Hoo Siew Kheng (WIEF), siewkheng@wief.org, or 013 280 9300