About us
Conventional financial institutions are keen to offer diverse banking products and this has led to a growing interest in Islamic finance, from a business, education and knowledge perspective. This has stimulated demand for industry-related research activities and academic programs in Islamic finance. London is the largest international centre for Islamic finance outside the Muslim World, largely as a result of the City’s role as a centre for Middle Eastern and Asian banking. This provides excellent opportunities for the School of Business and Law as Canary Wharf is London’s banking district and close to a substantial Muslim population.
The Centre aims to be the natural home for the Centre of Excellence in Islamic Finance in the UK.
Our vision
- To be an internationally recognised centre of excellence in the dissemination, application and critique of Islamic banking and finance processes and practices.
- To establish a strong support, research, teaching, training and engagement Centre that focuses on Islamic banking and finance.
Our mission is to provide a forum for research, education, training, consultation and dialogue on Islamic finance and banking industry practices. The Centre also serves as a bridge in terms of examining best practices in banking and finance by proffering studies that compare conventional and Islamic practices.
Objectives
- To become the UK leading Islamic Finance and Banking educational and research centre
- To act as a professional body for training, consultation and advisory services for Islamic Banking and Finance Industry.
- To pursue genuine industry–related research in Islamic Finance.
- The Islamic banking and Finance Centre is built on a three pillars model that comprises education and research, training, consultancy and advisory services related activities.
Education and research
The education programmes on offer include:
- The MSc Islamic Banking and Finance, which has been developed for individuals who are keen to progress to professional or research careers and incorporates the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) benchmarks. It aims to develop competent professionals who are well qualified and practiced in Islamic banking and finance and requires students to complete four core 30 credit modules and one 60 credit dissertation.
- The PhD in Islamic Banking and Finance which, together with the MPhil programme, is based on original research. The programme aims to produce individuals who well-versed in the principles and concepts of Islamic banking and finance, by providing comprehensive education and rigorous training in all aspects of this specialist area. The programme can be studied on a part-time or full-time basis.
- Sukok performance
- Islamic micro finance and development
- Financial performance of Islamic finance institutions
- Social responsibility and Islamic finance
The Centre provides open lectures, delivered by professionals and academics, that provide Islamic banking solutions to financial institutions across the world. These events also bring together internal and external stakeholders, to pursue their joint interests in Islamic banking and finance.
Consultancy
The Centre has established a database of well-qualified, professional experts who can provide advice to Islamic financial institutions and investors on all issues and future challenges.
Its also aims to develop a worldwide Islamic finance network, with practitioners, professionals, religious scholars and policy makers in the field, together with a worldwide network of peer organisations. This will enable it to carry out its activities in an efficient and effective manner.
Training
We aim to develop strong relationships with Islamic finance institutions and supply the Islamic finance sector with relevant training.
Individual level
For example we launched an executive education programme based on a blended learning approach in Islamic finance in February 2013, which includes the following:
- Introduction to Islamic finance
- The Islamic equity and bond markets
- Bank valuation
- Islamic asset management
- Islamic banking
- Risk management
- Ethical finance
Short courses
The Centre also provides tailor-made training courses in Islamic Finance
Royal Docks School of Business and Law Islamic Finance Summer School
The Centre plans to offer the School of Business and Law Islamic Finance Summer School in 2016. The programme will provide a unique learning experience and is the perfect for professional development.
The date for the summer school is: Monday to Friday 8 - 12 August 2016
Prof. M. Siraj Sait, Director, CIFLAC
