Higher Education Finance And Islamic Endowments

Public debt pressures due to the global economic crisis in several countries have impacted higher education, compelling governments to curtail the funding of higher education institutions (HEIs). Various instruments have been proposed as a platform for the private sector to channel funding to HEIs. This book introduces readers to the issues surrounding the financing of HEIs, especially public universities, which are dependent on government budgets. It discusses the sources of funding for HEIs, focusing on philanthropic instruments through endowment and waqf funds. Since both forms of income are obtained via contributions from third parties, such as alumni, individuals, business corporations etc., it is essential that they are managed in such a way to ensure their sustainability and that their benefits can be accessed without interruption. It explains the theory of successful endowment and waqf at HEIs, namely appropriate investment planning, superior investment committees, highly skilled investment managers, alumni networks, diversity of income sources and effective fundraising. These elements have been studied empirically in this book through case studies of several selected Malaysian public universities. The book considers policy implications and offers recommendations of strategies that Universities can adopt, such as the appointment of fund managers. No specific guidelines currently exist for appointing fund managers to enable universities to invest in assets such as bonds, equities, and property. Therefore, the book encourages universities to grow the endowment and waqf funds through proper investment strategies executed by professional fund managers. The book contributes new knowledge to scholars, students and researchers, as well as informing university administrators how to collect, manage and invest funds from endowment and waqf.

This is the first of its kind in its topical coverage of the developments and prospects of Islamic finance education at Western higher education. Intended to establish itself as a unique reference for academics and researchers this book gives an insight into ethics and values in curricula development at business schools and in finance departments.

The word (waqf) and its plural from awqaf are derived from Arabic root Verb which means "to stop", or " to hold" " to keep" or to prevent property from passing into the hands of a third person. In a religious connotation, the term waqf means to protect and preserve the property in such a way that remains intact but its usufruct is dedicated for charitable purposes in perpetuity. Endowments or awqaf (the plural of waqf) resemble common law trusts, with the trustee being the institution or individual in charge of the waqf and the beneficiary usually being the whole community. Awqaf can be used not only to provide immediate necessities to the poor, but also to create or strengthen business support institutions that can lower the cost of doing business for the poor. Awqaf can also be used to support and build infrastructure institutions that can improve corporate governance and reduce the cost of doing business. For example, information bureaus, market regulatory bodies, the provision of accountancy services, and other such shared services for a group or for the entire society can be funded through waqf. Thus, this paper focuses on the application of these concepts and some possible roles that waqf may play in the socio-economic development of the Muslim societies.

Economic capital is the subject of great debate among academics and professionals in the field of risk management. Conceptually, Islamic finance's encouragement of risk-sharing eliminates the debt burden encountered by the conventional banking sector. The majority of the Islamic banking system is based on equity-based financing. To be effective in practice, a variety of well-functioning institutions are required to translate Islamic banking concepts into a 'real-world' financial system. In spite of this, the regulatory, legal, product and operational requirements specific to Islamic banks may necessitate a distinct strategy for managing capital-related risks. This book provides a comprehensive review of the theoretical and practical aspects of Islamic economic capital in relation to contemporary Islamic finance. Drawing on the risk-sharing concept, this book delves into the core concept of economic capital from an Islamic perspective, including comparisons to conventional finance theory. Furthermore, it introduces alternative models and offers practical examples to strengthen the regulation and supervision of the Islamic banking system. It also addresses critical policy challenges concerning economic capital in Islamic finance, especially in dual banking countries. This book seamlessly integrates new theory with empirical insights and discusses emerging themes, including stress testing and Shari'ah compliance issues. Most of the chapters are illustrated with real-world cases and practical examples. This book is intended for advanced degree students in finance, and investment professionals, as well as financial practitioners and advisors, particularly those who are pursuing Islamic economics and finance courses.

Poverty is one of the top problems the Muslim community faces today. A scholastic approach towards a solution based on the values and cultural contexts of the Muslim community holds great importance and significance to the Islamic civilizations and modern economic and cultural applications in the world. Challenges and Impacts of Religious Endowments on Global Economics and Finance is a pivotal reference source that examines the role of waqf and similar endowments in Islamic financial systems and how these religious endowments impact global economics and finance. While highlighting topics such as Islamic finance, risk management, and economic development, this publication explores adopting Islamic approaches to contemporary socio-economic issues and the methods of content analysis and meta-analysis methods. This book is ideally designed for professionals, economist regulators, financial analysts, academics, researchers, and postgraduate students seeking current research on modernized Islamic economic models in order to tackle the problem of fiscal deficiency.

The issue of riba, that is, interest/the "excess" or "surplus" on loans is crucial for both Islamic and non-Islamic countries. Western economic systems use interest to distribute financial resources efficiently for investment and/or consumption, while Islamic economies pursue a completely different strategy for financing loans, which adheres to Islamic laws and prohibits the activities of conventional banking systems with regard to interest. This book argues that there is scope for new definitions and analysis based on alternative concepts which respect Islamic values and principles, yet pave the way for modification and debate. The book comprises of two parts. Theoretical issues are dealt with in the first section. The first two chapters examine conventional Islamic views on the prohibition of riba, while Chapters 3 and 4 contain unprecedented and alternative theoretical analysis based on concepts such as "earned" (halal-permitted-legal) vs. "unearned" (haram-impermissible-illegal) income and SUKUK, that is, Islamic interest-free bonds. The second part of the book tackles another unconventional aspect of Islamic finance, that is, the concept of NAS. The book considers whether the NAS-influenced anti-inflationary interest policy was a success or failure. Empirical data is evaluated in terms of bank incomes, inflation rate, interest rate, and the distribution of income. This book will be a useful guide for students, scholars, and researchers of Islamic banking and finance.

This book examines a range of current issues in Islamic development management. The first part of the book explores practical issues in governance and the application of Islamic governance in new areas such as quality management systems and the tourism industry, while the second delves into questions of sustainability. The book proposes a new Islamic sustainability and offers new perspectives on CSR in connection with waqf (Islamic endowments) and microfinance. The third part of the book addresses Islamic values and how they are applied in entrepreneurship, inheritance, consumer behavior and marketing. The fourth part examines the issues of waqf and takaful (a form of insurance in line with the Islamic laws), while the fifth discusses the fiqh (the study of Islamic legal codes) and legal framework from the perspectives of entrepreneurship, higher education, reporting and inheritance (wills). The final chapter is dedicated to the application of Islamic principles in various other issues. Written in an accessible style, the book will appeal to newcomers to the field, as well as researchers and academics with an interest in Islamic development management.

The word ‘Halal’ translates to ‘permissible’ in English, though it encapsulates a broader meaning that goes beyond permissibility and impermissibility. Halal incorporates hygiene, cleanliness, legality, compliance, ethics as well as cultural aspects. This book provides a holistic overview of the relevant concepts but also covers Shariah, commercial, regulatory and technological aspects of the global Halal industry. It is not confined to a specific region, country or sector, rather it gives a comprehensive summary of the developments and growth across all sectors of the Halal industry, at the regional but also the global level. It is a well-researched and accessible volume which sets out to demystify some of the more challenging areas and offers an in-depth synopsis of each of the research questions it answers. The book also contributes a series of chapters with specialized treatment. It explores the key Shariah issues and guiding principles of Islamic law, technical know-how within various sectors such as Halal food, tourism, cosmetics, pharma, logistics, supply chain, media & fashion and offers a discussion on Artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and blockchain in different sectors of the Halal industry. Moreover, this work proposes viable solutions to the challenges faced by the industry such as the harmonization of Halal standards. Beneficial to audiences of all levels from beginners to advanced, it will be a handy reference for researchers and advanced students studying Islamic business and economics, Halal management, nutritional sciences, tourism, media, fashion and pharmaceuticals. It will also be of benefit to practitioners, policymakers and legal and standard-setting bodies.