Universitas Negeri Malang (UM) continues to strengthen its global academic engagement through the Universitas Negeri Malang International Postdoctoral Fellowship (UM IPF) Program. One of the distinguished fellows in this programme is Dr. Nor Surilawana Sulaiman from Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Brunei Darussalam, who collaborated closely with Abdul Basid, S.Th.I., M.Th.I., Ph.D., as the host researcher from UM.
The fellowship was conducted over a four-month period, combining structured online scholarly engagement with an academic visit to UM. Throughout the programme, the fellow actively participated in a series of academic and institutional activities designed to promote knowledge exchange, strengthen research-informed discussions, and enhance international collaboration.
During her academic visit to UM, Dr. Nor Surilawana Sulaiman contributed to various academic forums, including guest lectures, workshops, and examination activities. These engagements provided valuable opportunities for students and academic staff to gain insights into international academic practices, particularly in the areas of scholarly writing, publication strategies, and contemporary issues in halal studies.
Among the key activities was a workshop on Scopus-indexed publication strategies, aimed at equipping master’s and doctoral students with practical knowledge on preparing and submitting high-quality academic manuscripts. In addition, she delivered guest lectures addressing topics such as the integration of Islamic environmental ethics (Hifz al-Bi’ah) with green economy principles in halal business, as well as contemporary perspectives on halal awareness in everyday life.
Her involvement also extended to academic evaluation processes, where she served as an external examiner for undergraduate thesis examinations. This role contributed to maintaining academic standards while introducing international perspectives into the evaluation process, particularly in guiding students to develop their research outputs into publishable scholarly work.
Beyond classroom and academic settings, the fellowship also facilitated broader community engagement. Through participation in religious lectures and outreach programmes, the fellow shared insights on ethical, legal, and spiritual dimensions of halal practices, fostering meaningful dialogue with the wider university community. These activities reflected the integration of academic knowledge with societal engagement, reinforcing the role of universities as agents of both intellectual and social development.
At the institutional level, the programme also supported strategic discussions between UM and UNISSA, focusing on the implementation of collaborative initiatives under existing partnership frameworks. These discussions highlighted opportunities for joint academic programmes, capacity-building activities, and sustained knowledge exchange between both institutions.
The collaboration between Dr. Nor Surilawana Sulaiman and Abdul Basid, S.Th.I., M.Th.I., Ph.D. exemplifies the core objective of the UM IPF programme: to foster meaningful academic partnerships that contribute to the advancement of knowledge, the enrichment of academic communities, and the strengthening of global networks.
Overall, the UM International Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme not only enhances individual academic capacity but also reinforces UM’s commitment to internationalisation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development of globally relevant scholarship.
This programme supports the implementation of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 4 (Quality Education) through the promotion of high-quality academic learning and capacity building, SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) through discussions on sustainable practices in halal industries, as well as SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by strengthening international collaboration between Universitas Negeri Malang and Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali.
Source: Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA)
Adapted and synthesised by Office of International Affairs, Universitas Negeri Malang
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