Appointment of visiting professor in Islamic Law an Australian first for UQ

Appointment of visiting professor in Islamic Law an Australian first for UQ

The University of Queensland has become the first Australian university to appoint a visiting professor in Islamic Law and introduce legal subjects in the area.

T C Beirne School of Law Head Professor Tony Tarr recently travelled to Brunei to personally appoint Professor Dr Haji Mahmud Saedon bin Awang Othman to the new three-year post.

Also in attendance were the Australian High Commissioner to Brunei, Doug Chester, and University International Education Director Chris Madden.

Professor Saedon is the Vice-Chancellor of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam and his acceptance of the role was approved by His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Dipertuan of Brunei Darussalam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolklah Mu'Izzaddin Waddaulah.

Professor Tarr said Professor Saedon would deliver guest lectures throughout the academic year as well as guide students electing to take three subjects in Islamic Law to be introduced from second semester next year.

"Two of Australia's biggest and most populous neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia, are governed by Islamic Law so it is only logical that our students have a better understanding of this area in order for us to trade and interact with these countries more effectively," Professor Tarr said.

"The 750,000-strong Australian Islamic community is also growing with an understanding of Islamic Law areas including family law necessary to address their concerns."

Professor Saedon was a leading Islamic scholar highly regarded in Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore and his appointment was greeted with widespread excitement in these parts of Asia, Professor Tarr said.

"This honour is not only significant to me but also to the people of Brunei in general and to the Universiti Brunei Darussalam in particular as this is the first time that a Bruneian has been awarded a visiting professorship by a well-known and leading university in Australia," Professor Saedon said.

"In this day and age, most of the conflicts which occur between communities of different beliefs in a country are due to a lack of understanding and tolerance of the religious and cultural beliefs and practices of the different communities. Thus, the need to study and to foster an understanding of the civilisations and cultures of communities of the world becomes extremely important."

For more information, contact Professor Tony Tarr (telephone 07 3365 1021).