College holds first doctoral examination

Dubai's College of Islamic and Arabic Studies held its first doctoral PhD viva examination last week to mark the institution's 25th anniversary. The silver jubilee celebrations and thesis defence session were held in the presence of Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The defending student was Laila Ahmad Salem Al Mashjari whose doctoral research in Islamic Sharia (Law) focused on analysing cases of internet fraud in comparison to the UAE's penal code. A PhD viva examination is a student's defence of their body of research in front of an academic committee to prove the uniqueness and beneficial contribution of their work. This process determines a student's success and subsequent confirmation of being awarded a doctoral degree. "I chose the subject for my research as internet fraud because it's something the UAE has been paying attention to since the turn of the century," said Laila. "The viva went well and I got very positive responses but I now have to wait and see." Laila is currently a secondary school teacher and aspires to become a university professor of Islamic Sharia if awarded her doctoral degree. The college was founded by leading UAE businessman and philanthropist, Juma Al Majid, in 1986 and provides GCC students with a subsidised education. It began offering its PhD programme in Islamic Sharia in 2004, making it one of the first institutions in the country to do so. Dr Mohammad Abdul Rahman, Vice-Chancellor of the college, said the introduction of the doctoral programme was done with the vision of nurturing the aspirations of Emirati women. In 2007 a PhD programme in Arabic Language and Literature was introduced at the college, focusing on various branches of linguistics tied to the Emirati culture, in a bid to safeguard UAE's heritage and national identity. There are currently nearly 25 students enrolled in the college's two PhD programmes accredited by the ministry. Over the years the college's students have contributed nearly 100 master's level academic research papers in Islamic Sharia and Arabic Language and Literature. From / Gulf News