Riyadh: Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) academic, Assoc Prof Dr Riswadi Azmi, has been named a Visiting Research Fellow at the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (DARAH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, UMT deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International), who is assuming the duties of vice-chancellor, Prof Dr Suriyani Muhamad, announced that Riswadi is one of only three researchers selected globally for DARAH's inaugural Visiting Research Fellow programme. He is the first researcher from Southeast Asia to be appointed under this prestigious programme.

Prof Dr Suriyani highlighted that the appointment reflects Riswadi's expertise in Malay world manuscripts, with a particular focus on the Terengganu Royal Quran manuscripts. This recognition underscores Malaysia's advancing position in Quranic manuscript studies and the preservation of Islamic civilisation heritage.

For the inaugural cohort, three researchers were chosen, representing Malaysia, Germany, and Australia. During his fellowship, Riswadi will engage in comparative research on Quranic manuscripts within DARAH's collection. His work will explore the manuscript-copying tradition in Southeast Asia, focusing on aspects such as illumination art, calligraphy, verse and juz' divisions, and codicological characteristics.

The outcomes of Riswadi's research will be disseminated through international journals, academic conferences, and will contribute significantly to teaching, research, and the preservation of Islamic manuscript heritage in Malaysia. Prof Dr Suriyani emphasized that such an appointment boosts UMT's reputation for high-impact research and paves the way for strategic collaborations with leading research institutions, particularly in Islamic heritage, Quranic manuscripts, and Islamic civilisation.

DARAH, a Saudi Government research institution, is tasked with preserving and developing the nation's historical archives, manuscripts, and national heritage. It is esteemed as one of the foremost global centers for research on history, manuscripts, and Islamic civilisation.