Conferences and Events

Poverty Alleviation and Islamic Economics & Finance: Current Issues and Future Prospects

21-22 May 2013 at Durham University, UK

It is widely acknowledged that poverty continues to be an essential problem prevailing in large parts of the world including in the industrialised countries, despite the manifold increases in the overall global income levels during the last century. In an attempt to construct a developmentalist discourse, Islamic economics and finance has essentialised poverty alleviation as one of the main thrust of its existence, as identified with its ‘human-centred economic development strategy’. As part of this discourse, Islamic banks and financial institutions were considered as the institutional response to developmentalism need in the Muslim world. Indeed, since the establishment of the first Islamic bank in the mid-1970s, the Islamic financial sector has developed with global financial assets reportedly rising up to over $1.2 trillion in 2012 and contributed to increasing welfare of Muslim societies.

However, despite the growth in assets, operations and institutionalization of Islamic banking and finance, poverty levels in numerous Muslim countries as well as in the global level remain high. Therefore, in responding to prevalence of poverty and failed impact of Islamic banking and finance, there is a need to re-consider poverty alleviation more seriously conceptually as well as practically within Islamic economics and finance discourse and practice, so that strategies towards poverty eradication can be developed as essentialised by Islamic economics. To that end, research related to poverty alleviation and Islamic finance strategies are pivotal.

In view of the above, this conference aims to provide a platform to share current research with the objective of discussing issues and future prospects of Islamic economics and financial institutions, and strategies towards mitigating poverty. The discussion may include, among others, aspects touching upon potential contribution, socio-economic impacts and corporate social responsibility, corporate governance, constructing developmentalist oriented products and services, and sustainability of Islamic economics and financial institutions towards poverty alleviation. In relation to these, this conference solicits papers in line with but not limited to the following sub-themes:

• Concepts and determinants of poverty in Muslim countries;
• Re-considering Islamic economics and financial institutions in relation to poverty alleviation;
• Islamic microfinance and microtakaful;
• Zakat and awqaf institution;
• Islamic charities, giving behaviour and alleviation of poverty;
• Islamic finance and financial inclusion;
• Islamic financial planning;
• Poverty and infrastructure financing.

Academics, financiers and bankers, policy makers, research students and other interested parties are most welcome to submit conceptual and/or empirical papers, including case studies, that address the identified topics above.

It is the aim of the conference to disseminate the results of the papers presented at the conference; and therefore, it is aimed to develop an edited book from selected papers of the conference.

Submission Guidelines

The papers are expected to be original and the length should be between 5,000-8,000 words. The abstract should not be more than 400 words. The cover page should also include (i) name of the author(s), (ii) affiliation and (iii) addresses. The submission should also include a short biographic statement of not exceeding 250 words (Please do not send your CVs).

The formatting of the paper should be as follows:

1. Format: MS word with single space of A4 size paper and one inch of margin;
2. Text font: Times New Roman, 12pt;
3. Section headings: Times New Roman, 12pt, uppercase, centered.
4. Title of paper: Times New Roman, 14pt, uppercase, centered.
5. Table and figures should be numbered subsequently;
6. References: APA style.

To submit a paper to the conference, please email to iefdurham2013@gmail.com

There is no submission and registration fee for the conference. Please also be informed that accommodation and transportation costs are not covered by the conference.

Important Dates/Notes

• Deadline for submission of full paper: 11 March 2013
• Notification of paper acceptance: 25 March 2013

Organisers/Academic Contacts

PhD Students, Durham Centre for Islamic Economics and Finance at Durham University, UK

• Rahmatina A. Kasri (rahmatina.kasri@durham.ac.uk)
• Ak Md Hasnol Alwee Pg Md Salleh (h.a.pg-hj-md-salleh@durham.ac.uk)
• Nur Indah Riwajanti (n.i.riwajanti@durham.ac.uk)
• Farid A. Wibowo (f.a.wibowo@durham.ac.uk)

Academic Advisors

• Professir Habib Ahmed (Sharjah Chair in Islamic Law and Finance, School of Government and International Affairs)
• Dr Mehmet Asutay (Director of Durham Centre for Islamic Economics and Finance)

Previous conferences and events

International Conference on Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility: Ideals vs Realities

12-14 April 2012, Istanbul, Turkey

Organized jointly by IGIAD (Society for Economic Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics [Iktisadi Girisim ve Is Ahlaki Dernegi]), Istanbul, Turkey & Durham Centre for Islamic Economics and Finance, Durham University, UK

This conference aims to contribute to the debate on aspirations and realities in relation to business ethics and corporate social responsibility by providing a forum for academics, researchers, scholars, managers, entrepreneurs and business executives to share their research and knowledge empirically or discursively in relation to the changing and expected dynamics of business ethics and CSR.

Further Information is available from the conference website

Understanding Islamic Securitization, Sukuk Structures and Documentation

23-25 April 2012, at DIFC Centre of Excellence, Dubai - UAE

Organized by Hawkamah, the Institute for Corporate Governance in Partnership with Durham Centre for Islamic Economics and Finance, UK, and Dar Al-Sharia.

Hawkamah, the Institute for Corporate Governance has partnered with Dar Al Sharia Legal & Financial Consultancy LLC, and UK's Durham University, to offer a 3 day course in Islamic securitization and Sukuk structures. A half day Pre Workshop Seminar is also being held on "Principles of Islamic Finance and Islamic Financing Structures" is being held on April 22, 2012 for those who are new to Islamic Finance.

This course will benefit professionals working within the finance industry who seek to better understand the functional comparison between conventional and Islamic finance. The participants will benefit from a unique curriculum that teaches simultaneously the academic and practical elements of Islamic finance (focusing on securitization and Sukuks), including the role of corporate governance in Islamic finance, providing the participants an overall understanding of how Islamic finance operates.

Certificates will be awarded jointly in the name of Hawkamah, Dar Al Sharia and Durham University, UK.

Further information

Previous guest speakers and research seminars include: