THE Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) celebrated its 40th anniversary with a commemorative dinner in Kuala Lumpur, honouring the Centre’s long-standing academic and institutional ties with Malaysia and the wider Asian region.
The event, hosted by His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak – Vice-Chair of the OCIS Board of Trustees – was held on 29 September 2025 and brought together dignitaries, scholars, and senior government officials in a tribute to the Centre’s global legacy and Malaysia’s pivotal role in advancing Islamic scholarship.
This celebration followed the principal anniversary ceremony held earlier in Oxford on 17 July 2025, officiated by His Majesty King Charles III, Patron of OCIS.
“Malaysia has been closely associated with the Centre since its early years,” said Sultan Nazrin Shah in a message published in the commemorative volume ‘Malaysia and the Centre’.
“Many of my Royal colleagues have visited it, and successive prime ministers have lectured there. Malaysia is physically represented at the Centre by the beautiful Malaysia Auditorium.”
He added that OCIS fellowships honour several distinguished Malaysian statesmen, including Sultan Azlan Shah, Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Mahathir Mohamad, Tan Sri Mohammed Noah, and Tan Sri Azman Hashim.
“The 50th anniversary of Malaysia’s independence was marked by the establishment of the Merdeka Scholarships in partnership with Khazanah Nasional, enabling many Malaysians to pursue studies at Oxford,” Sultan Nazrin added.
The Centre’s ties with Malaysia also extend deeply into the field of Islamic finance.
The Securities Commission Malaysia has co-organised the OCIS Roundtable on Islamic Finance for the past 16 years and jointly supports the SC–OCIS Scholar in Residence Fellowship Programme.
Founded in 1985 and based in Oxford, the OCIS promotes scholarly understanding of Islam and the Muslim world through research, international cooperation, and academic exchange. It has forged partnerships across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
Among the prominent guests at the Kuala Lumpur event were the 11th President of Türkiye Dr Abdullah Gül, the 10th Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Dr Mohammed Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and other federal ministers, corporate leaders, ambassadors, muftis, and scholars. - September 30, 2025
