Directory Of The University Scientific Research Journals
The Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), placed under the aegis of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), seeks to strengthen cooperation among the higher education institutions of the Islamic world, through extending such support as would help achieve their aspiration to reach a top-level scientific level and develop their scientific research works. To this end, a special programme in the Action Plan of FUIW for the Years 1998-2000 was geared to the provision of information on the higher education institutions, mainly through the publication of a directory of the universities of the Islamic world. The Plan provides for the preparation of another directory, this time on university scientific research journals, the first edition of which is between your hands. Among the goals targeted by the directory is to facilitate the exchange of university research periodicals among universities, generalize access to them, and optimize benefit therefrom.
The directory has been prepared in the light of the results of the questionnaire previously distributed by the FUIW General Secretariat to all the Member Universities, for which it received the replies of 53 universities based in 21 countries. Replies contained information about 267 journals. The directory features exhaustive information on the university scientific research journals, including the title of the journal, the names of the director and the editor-in-chief, the full address of head office, the telephone and fax numbers and e-mail, the publisher's name and address, the year of publication of the first issue, the frequency of publication per year, the language of publication, the fields of specialization, the ISBN, the sale price, the number of copies distributed per issue, and the annual subscription rate. This information has been classified in accordance with the recommendation of the International Standards Organization (ISO) aimed to facilitate the circulation of data and its stocking in databases.
The University and the Future of the Muslim World
Science is the key to the renaissance of nations. It is generated by the human mind, which is moulded in the University, the crucible that shapes life under all its aspects, through the working of science, know-how and field experience. This is the fruit of the cumulative knowledge accrued by dint of a diligent learning enterprise based on academic criteria and objective study of science.
The success of the university in fulfilling its assigned role in keeping with the firm academic criteria yields utmost benefits for society and gives strong impetus to those in charge of its affairs in the various fields of development. The achievement of its goals represents, therefore, a real success for society in terms of achieving the mission of progress in all walks of life. Consequently, among the new criteria adopted in gauging the growth of societies and their level of progress is the extent of the University's success in providing scientific services to society. However, its success is not measured in terms of the number of researchers and graduates and the volume of its facilities and buildings, but rather in light of its effective impact in the field of scientific research and its orientation of people toward harnessing the opportunities of progress and promoting excellence, creativity and innovation.
Universities are, therefore, the real architects of material progress and moral elevation; they are the havens of the intellect, the lighthouse that guides to the path of progress and civilization-making. Hence the initiative taken by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization (ISESCO) in coordination and cooperation with its Member States to set up the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW). It was a far-reaching initiative infused with a civilizational dimension. Indeed, the establishment of an international Islamic body gathering all universities of the Muslim world within an integrated, harmonious framework is accomplishment that serves, in the first place, the interest of the university as it pursues the objective targeted by each and everyone, namely the development of universities in the Muslim countries and the upgrading of their creative scientific and cultural contribution to the Muslim societies.
With all this in mind, the First General Conference of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World was intent on holding an academic symposium on the theme of: "the University and the Issues of the Muslim Ummah". It was attended by a large number of the Conference members, the pick of the Ummah's scholars and intellectuals. These directors, chancellors, deans and professors of universities gave the gist of their intellect and experience in the researches, studies and working documents that constitute a material of paramount academic importance.
It has been deemed highly useful, therefore, to allocate the first issue of the Journal of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World to the publication of the researches, studies and papers presented to and discussed in this symposium, in order to facilitate access to them and generalize benefit. This trove of university thought represents a real asset for all higher education actors, whatever their position. It provides those interested in developing the performance of universities practical thoughts and feasible proposals. We beseech Almighty Allah to diffuse benefit therefrom.
The University in the Service of Society
The progress and advancement of modern societies are commensurate with the scientific and academic performance of the university in terms of the level of excellence and standard of creativity in all areas of knowledge, as well as, in terms of the distinct contribution it could offer to society and thereby influences radically and profoundly the economic and social conditions, triggering novel interaction with the surrounding economic and social environment to the benefit of a broader development of the quality of life for individuals and communities.
Indeed, the university could play a twofold role in social development. It may be a spur to comprehensive resurgence and to advancement in all areas of knowledge, especially science, technology, industry, agriculture, medicine, engineering, and administration, communication and computer systems which command economic growth at all levels.
This close relationship between optimum performance by the university of its key tasks and the rise of overall development growth should always be taken into account by decision-makers involved in university and higher education in the Islamic world, and should urge for planned, well-thought out action geared to promote the role of the university in the economies of Muslim countries by means of securing efficient linkage between the university and society in such a way as to open novel vistas for scientific research at all levels and in all areas to help develop state-of-the-art industries which constitute the real engine of development and progress, and indeed the linchpin for any genuine civilizational emergence, which, nonetheless, is an established human right for all peoples and nations.
In so doing, the university would fully discharge its mission towards society, in the general acceptance of the term, and thereby enable society to meet the objective requirements of development and construction, endow it with the sinews of scientific progress, economic growth and cultural and civilizational advancement, as well as pave the way before comprehensive, sustainable development liable to achieve the supreme goals, for the pursuit of which governmental and non-governmental efforts are tightly pooled together.
The Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World being fully aware of these realities which embody the distinctive feature of our age, wasted no time to organize a scientific symposium in the Tunisian Republic, as part of cooperation with the ancient University of Ezzitouna, on the theme: 'University scientific research and the sectors of production and development'. The Federation is also keen to publicize the proceedings of the symposium among the community of researchers and scientists, through publication in the second Issue of its Journal AL-JAMIA, to maximize benefit from the studies and papers presented. We trust the Almighty to make this academic journal benefit to the university and scientific research community and to Muslim communities at large.
May Allah grant us success and lead our steps on the right path.
Activating Higher Education in the Service of the Umma
Issue 3 of Al-Jamia is in arabic only.
|
