Reverse Linkage

123 DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION several conferences and workshops to promote the cause of peace enjoined by Islam. With co-sponsorship by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the International Islamic University of Malaysia organised the 1st IIUM World Prosumer Convention (IWPC) in Kuala Lumpur in August 2017, with the theme of Translating Innovation to Wealth. The biennial conven- tion is for researchers, scholars, industries and innovators from all over the world to address 21st century opportuni- ties and challenges through various conferences, prototype competitions, forums, exhibitions and industry match- ing. The message from the Malaysian Minister of Higher Education described the IsDB-IIUM co-sponsored event as in line with the country’s efforts in realising the Malaysian government’s plans for having a fully developed economy by the year 2020. Conventions like these provide the proper grounds to bring together academia, civil society, industry, and the government to move the country forward. IIUM Rector, Dr Zaleha Kamarudin, assured the audience of the university’s commitment in discovering innovative ways to upgrade the quality of life for mankind and stated that: “By sharing knowledge, cooperating and supporting each other, we can all achieve more, and together we will prosper.” The first IWPC has brought in around 1,000 international presenters and participants from around the world to attend 42 different activities on technology transfer in the Muslim world, including advances in manufacturing and materials engineering as well as achievements in mathematical appli- cations and mechatronics engineering. In 2017, IsDB’s regional office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia facilitated academic cooperation between IIUM and Libya’s Islamic University of Al Saied Mohamad Bin Ali Al Sanussi (IUS). Faculty members from IUS identified grounds for academic cooperation and capacity building in various fields including in Islamic banking and finance. Disturbed by death, destruction and the suffering of displaced persons, refugee children, elderly people and women, IIUM took the lead to pool together Muslimwomen across the globe in a programme entitled World Muslim Women Summit and Exhibition 2016 (WISE) where Muslim women from all walks of life came together to think, feel and act together towards progress and peacebuilding. This was the first ever such event and was held in September 2016 at PWTC, Kuala Lumpur. It was a global level event with a conference, NGO meetings, youth forum and an exhibition on Muslim women’s entrepreneurial and crea- tive achievements. The Summit was co-organized with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Department of Women’s Development (Jabatan Pembangunan Wanita) Malaysia, and the World Islamic Forum (WIF). There were also other strategic partners: TASAM and Turkcell from Turkey, and the Putra World Trade Centre, the OIC International Business Centre, and others from Malaysia. The objectives of WISE 2016 were, among others, to address the global challenges of peacebuilding by focus- ing on the special contributions of Muslim women and to encourage young women leaders to address contemporary critical and challenging peacebuilding issues from religious, social, political, cultural, economic and legal perspectives. The Summit was a multi-faceted event including an International Conference which deliberated on Muslim women’s roles, works and contributions in the field of peacebuilding. Also discussed were the roles of the OIC and other Muslim organizations in supporting Muslim women’s efforts in peacebuilding. The Summit also had World Muslim Women NGOs meeting which brought together more than 200 participants fromMuslim countries and Muslimminority countries to share their experiences of war, conflict, and post-war situations with the ultimate aim of working towards peace. Image: IIUM The First International Islamic Initiatives on Peacebuilding 2017 IIUM World Prosumer Convention 2017 Image: IIUM