FUIW council discusses three-year plan

The Executive Council of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW) yesterday held its 21st session at Qatar University (QU) to discuss the three-year plan and administrative and financial reports of the federation.
Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Dr Mohammed Abdul Wahed Ali Al Hammadi attended the opening ceremony.
The two-day meeting aims to highlight and discuss the Federation’s plans in the areas of knowledge, research and innovation.
In his opening remarks, QU President Dr Hassan Al Derham said: "This meeting will contribute to establishing a roadmap for the future of higher education in Islamic world on the basis of knowledge and research."
He added: “Islamic universities play a pivotal role in achieving peace and mutual understanding between nations by providing societies with highly qualified researchers and scholars who contribute to the establishment of development strategies and the promotion of intellectual and social growth. 
FUIW Executive Council Chairman and Director of Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University Dr Suliman bin Abdallah Aba-Al Khail said: “This gathering brings together FUIW members to work towards accomplishing a noble objective that will serve the Islamic world’s educational and research interests. Today, there is a crucial need in the Islamic world for wise perception and co-research initiatives that align with FUIW objectives."
This highlights the key role of scholars and researchers in helping future generations to understand the current situation in the Islamic world, while encouraging them to advance their research activities.”
He also noted that the meeting will contribute to promoting collaborative opportunities in the field of education and research among Islamic universities. He said: “The Council will examine two reports; the first on the activities of FUIW General Secretariat between the 20th and 21st sessions, and the second on the Federation’s 2015 financial situation. It will also evaluate the amended version of FUIW Action Plan and Budget for 2016-2018.”
FUIW Secretary General and Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Director General Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri said: "This meeting will discuss the three-year (2016-2018) plan for FUIW which takes into account difficulties and challenges facing higher education. Problems and challenges will not be overcome without enhancing integration and cooperation between the Islamic universities and work to achieve quality." 
He emphasised as well the various challenges that call for integrated and corporate research.
The three-year plan responds in its content, programmes, aims and mechanism of its implementation to the requirements of the future including quality of education, said Altwaijari, adding that we must trigger our responsibilities to enhance research and its ultimate impact on Islamic communities.
In light of this plan two integrated work projects have been prepared; the first is the mechanism of assessing the performances of Islamic universities and its means of implementation, the second to enhance integration and cooperation between the member countries, Altwaijri observed.
During the event, Dr Al Derham, Altwaijri and Aba-Al Khail were honoured in recognition of their ultimate support and efforts in the field of Islamic higher education.
On November 30, FUIW will mark its 29th anniversary of establishment, which is an occasion to review and renew determination to achieve the aims and goals of the federation said Altwaiji.
On the sidelines of the event, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Abdulaziz Altwaijri representing ISESCO and Chaiman Yousef Al-Kazim on behalf of the Arab Union for Voluntary Works.