International Islamic University MalaysiaHistorical Background
The International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) was established by the International Islamic University Malaysia in September 1987, as a new academic centre within the IIUM organization. In 1988 the University also appointed Prof. Dr. Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas as Professor of Islamic Thought and Civilization, and the Founder-Director of the Institute.
ISTAC was officially launched by the former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed on 4th October, 1991 as a research and postgraduate institution to offer degrees in Islamic civilization and Islamic science.
Upon ISTAC's, request to be autonomous, the Majlis of IIUM granted the autonomy status in 1991. Thenceforth ISTAC operated as an autonomous body affiliated to IIUM. The autonomy status came to an end in 2002 and ISTAC became a Kulliyyah of IIUM, subject to the university’s rules and regulations. The curriculum of ISTAC was expanded to include the contemporary Muslim world issues and concerns, while retaining its major focus on Islamic thought and civilization.
The present campus consists of administrative and academic buildings, a library, a mosque, a conference hall, a banquet hall, staff and students apartments and a cafeteria .
On 6th May 2010, ISTAC and the Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance (IIiBF), (previous ISTAC campus at Jalan Damansara) was officially launched by HRH Sultan of Pahang and designated IIUM Kuala Lumpur campuses.
Aims & Objectives
ISTAC is a postgraduate research-oriented Institute which offers M.A. degree by coursework and research and Ph.D degree by research.
- To provide postgraduate studies and research with the objective of training scholars and intellectual leaders to play creative roles in the restoration of Islamic thought and civilization to its rightful place.
- To provide appropriate Islamic responses to the intellectual and cultural challenges of the modern world, and various schools of thought, ideologies, philosophies, and religions.
- To publish the outcome of its researches and studies.
- To establish a reference and research library reflecting the religious and intellectual traditions of Islamic and other civilizations.