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121 DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION T he growing number of threats to human security has made it absolutely essential to understand, increase and apply knowledge from various disci- plines in the pursuit of peace by creating positive social conditions which minimise destructive conflicts and promote human well-being. The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) has been in the forefront of fostering cooperation through promoting exchanges of knowledge, skills, resources and technical know-how to develop capacity and improve people’s lives.The university has established many institutes and centres and organised many seminars and workshops to address some of these enduring and intractable problems, focusing specifically on issues of natural disaster, coercion, and leadership in promoting peace and conflict within and between soci- eties and contributing to the development of efforts to build peaceful and equitable forms of social coexistence. The IIUM operates on a model of research, knowledge dissemination, and skills development as tools for economic development and peace. IIUM students are not merely concerned about finding a career after graduation but also with big questions regarding one’s calling and duties to others. IIUMuses technology to meet educational objectives, foster active engagement of students in community building, develop civic competence, and further career aspirations. IIUM’s efforts in this respect have been well recognised at home and abroad, with approximately 25,620 students from approximately 100 countries. As of the 33rd convocation ceremony of IIUM held in November 2017, the university has produced 85,854 graduates and postgraduates of whom 73,677 were Malaysians and 12,177 international students. The university has been emphasizing the need to partake of the international network of intellectuals and civil society groups and thus to play a constructive role in establish- ing mutual understanding and promoting civilizational dialogue for the purpose of ameliorating global problems. To this end, the university has forged alliances with several groups and established various centres and institutes. To promote peace, in 2006 the university established cordial relations with Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF) which has its roots in the Perdana Global Peace Organization (PGPO), a non-governmental organization which envisages a serious, active and sustained struggle against war and for peace. IIUM has also been in the forefront of promoting inter- faith harmony and tolerance, implementing the UN resolution adopted in September 2010 which affirmed that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue is an important dimension of a culture of peace, and proclaimed the first week of February every year to be observed as World Interfaith Harmony Week. The university has been organizing seminars since 2012 to spread the message of harmony and tolerance among people of different faiths. It has collaborated with the United Nations’ initiative for interfaith harmony and tolerance; the Department of National Unity; Prime Minister Department, Malaysia; Ma’din Academy, India, and other organizations to initi- ate historic meetings, conferences and dialogue. In 2013, IIUM organized the International Seminar on Interfaith Harmony and Tolerance along with an award ceremony. The Rector of IIUM pointed out that the World Interfaith International Islamic University Malaysia: fostering cooperation through Reverse Linkage Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Zaleha Kamarudin, Rector; Prof. Dr. Abdul Rashid Moten, Guest Writer; International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Image: IIUM International Islamic University Malaysia