Medan: The Faizuddin Centre of Educational Excellence (FCoEE) is hosting an international conference in Medan, Indonesia, aimed at empowering the asnaf community to break free from the cycle of poverty. FCoEE chairman, Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Kamarudin Hussin, announced that the ‘International Conference on Holistic Opportunities for Poverty Empowerment’ (ICOHOPE), scheduled from September 25 to 27, will gather researchers and academics from Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the conference, themed “Empowering Asnaf Through Multidisciplinary Approaches,” aims to gather pertinent data to aid the asnaf community in enhancing their living conditions. ICOHOPE will delve into various fields, including education, entrepreneurship, technology, health sciences, and asnaf development, offering a platform for knowledge sharing and strategy development to uplift low-income communities.

Prof Kamarudin expressed hope that data collected during the conference would lead to the establishment of an asnaf research center in Malaysia in the future. The conference will feature several esteemed keynote speakers, such as Mohd Nazim Mohd Noor, the CEO of the Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPs), Associate Professor Dr Ismail Lutfi Japakiya, President of Fatani University, Thailand, and Dr Md Sabur Khan, Founder and Chairman of Daffodil Family, Daffodil International University, Bangladesh.

He also noted that FCoEE awarded 36 research grants worth RM7,000 each this year, an increase from 15 grants last year. It is expected that every research outcome will be showcased at both national and international levels.

In conjunction with ICOHOPE, the Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, and the Raja Puan Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Hajah Dr Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil, will be honored with awards from Indonesian universities for their contributions to educational development, including the founding of FCoEE.

Established in 2022, FCoEE has shown a strong commitment to bolstering Malaysia’s education sector, particularly in Perlis. The center supports the national education system by providing added value, fostering a sustainable educational community, integrating both smart and traditional learning methods, and emphasizing practical programs to produce competitive and highly employable graduates.