Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (QFIS) at the Hamad bin Khalifa University has signed a memorandum of understanding with Derasat Company for Research and Consulting in Islamic Banking.
The agreement was signed to establish a scientific co-operation to support research work and provide training to QFIS students in Islamic banking.
The agreement facilitates the preparation of an encyclopaedia of jurisprudence in Islamic banking, which will be the first of its kind in Qatar.
Prof Dr Hatem el-Karanshawy, founding dean of QFIS, and Abdulbasit Ahmed al-Shaibei, member of trustees, Derasat, who also International Islamic CEO, signed the agreement at a ceremony held at Qatar Foundation.
Soud al-Tamimi, vice-resident (operations) Hamad bin Khalifa University was among those present.
Prof Dr el-Karanshawy said, "The agreement is important because it provides the appropriate environment for the adoption of ideas and research. At the same time, it supports our students, encourages collaborative work and achieves the required interaction between practitioners in the banking business and scholars at academic centres. This interaction ensures success for both parties.
"Our goal is always to produce beneficial knowledge. We hope to contribute to this goal by studying the existing products in the market, appraising their Shariah foundations and hopefully introducing new products. I thank all those who contributed to the success of this agreement. I think it is a good sign, especially as it is the first agreement we have signed under the umbrella of Hamad bin Khalifa University. And God willing, it will be a blessed step."
Al-Shaibei thanked el-Karanshawy and stressed that the agreement reflected the desire of the private sector to play a role in disseminating awareness and knowledge pertaining to Islamic economics and banking.
The agreement will contribute to effectively convey the concepts and theories of Islamic economics and Islamic banking, and will work to link the educational inputs in Islamic studies in a way that ensures contribution to the development and progress of Islamic economics.
Dr Sultan al-Hashemi, professor at Qatar University as well as a Derasat member, said, "Through this agreement, we will prepare an encyclopaedia of jurisprudence in Islamic banking, which will be the first of its kind. We will also collaborate in mentoring students pursuing QFIS's master's degree in Islamic Finance, by providing them with training opportunities and guiding their research to benefit the banking sector. In addition to this, we will collaborate on research projects, and in future, hold a joint seminar focusing on Islamic banking.
Dr Tariqullah Khan, a professor at QFIS, said: "We have a good relationship with Islamic banks and this agreement will strengthen this relationship, especially in the area of training our students through the financial institutions that the company represents. We expect that Derasat will be an excellent addition as a scientific and consulting institution in Qatar."
© Gulf Times 2014
