THE Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has officially announced the opening of applications for the highly esteemed 14th Scholar in Residence (SIR) Fellowship Programme in Islamic Finance at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) in the United Kingdom.
In a statement today, the SC said this opportunity is available for the academic year 2025/2026 and invites experts in Islamic finance to apply for the distinguished fellowship.
The SIR Fellowship, which has been running for over a decade, provides a unique and valuable platform for professionals and practitioners in Islamic finance and related disciplines.
“The programme is designed to allow fellows to undertake independent, applied research on current and pressing topics of significant relevance to the Islamic capital market (ICM),” it said.
The SC has identified specific priority areas for research, all of which must hold contemporary relevance to the field of ICM.
“These include critical topics such as Maqasid al-Shariah, Islamic social finance, fintech innovations, impact investing, measuring impact projects, as well as sustainable and responsible investment practices.”
Professionals, scholars, and industry experts with in-depth knowledge and experience in these areas are particularly encouraged to apply for the fellowship, it added.
Once selected, the chosen Scholar in Residence will spend an academic year at Oxford, beginning in October 2025.
During this period, they will be expected to conduct groundbreaking research, participate in academic activities, and actively contribute to intellectual discussions at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.
Their responsibilities will include delivering lectures, collaborating on academic studies, and engaging with key institutions to further the growth and development of the Islamic capital market.
Since its inception in 2012, the SIR Fellowship Programme has supported 14 distinguished scholars, providing them with the opportunity to make significant contributions to the global Islamic finance community.
The SC views this initiative as an essential part of its ongoing commitment to promoting thought leadership, advancing research, and building capacity in the Islamic capital market, thereby reinforcing Malaysia's status as a global leader in Islamic finance.
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications by the deadline of April 28, 2025. For more information or to apply, applicants can visit the Visiting Fellowship section on the official Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies website: www.oxcis.ac.uk. – February 28, 2025
