The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Celebrates 40th Anniversary in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, 29 September 2025 — The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) celebrated its 40th anniversary with a distinguished dinner event in Kuala Lumpur, honoring the deep and enduring partnership between Malaysia, Asia, and the Centre, particularly in advancing Islamic finance and scholarship. This milestone event followed the main anniversary commemoration in Oxford on 17 July 2025, graced by His Majesty King Charles III, Patron of OCIS, marking a year-long celebration of the Centre’s global impact.

Established in 1985, OCIS is dedicated to fostering a nuanced and informed understanding of Islam and the Muslim world through rigorous scholarship and international academic collaboration. Headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom, the Centre’s global outreach extends across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, forging meaningful partnerships that advance knowledge and mutual understanding.

The Kuala Lumpur dinner was graciously hosted by His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Shah, the Sultan of Perak and Vice-Chair of the OCIS Board of Trustees, in honor of the Trustees and esteemed dignitaries. In his message featured in the commemorative book Malaysia and the Centre, Sultan Nazrin Shah expressed profound pride in Malaysia’s longstanding association with OCIS.

“Malaysia’s connection with OCIS is both deep and multifaceted,” he noted. “Numerous members of Malaysia’s royalty have visited the Centre, and successive prime ministers have delivered lectures there. The magnificent Malaysia Auditorium stands as a testament to our nation’s enduring presence at OCIS.”

The Centre’s fellowship programs bear the names of distinguished global figures, including prominent Malaysian leaders such as Sultan Azlan Shah, Sultan Nazrin Shah, Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Mahathir Mohamad, Tan Sri Mohammed Noah, and Tan Sri Azman Hashim. These fellowships, supported by institutions such as the Albukhary Foundation and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, underscore Malaysia’s significant contributions to OCIS’s academic mission.

Sultan Nazrin highlighted the establishment of the Merdeka Scholarships, a collaborative initiative between OCIS and Khazanah Nasional, launched to commemorate Malaysia’s 50th anniversary of independence. These scholarships have enabled numerous Malaysian scholars to pursue advanced studies at Oxford, further strengthening academic ties.

A cornerstone of Malaysia’s collaboration with OCIS is its leadership in Islamic finance. For the past 16 years, the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has partnered with OCIS to host the highly regarded SC-OCIS Roundtable on Islamic Finance, a platform that fosters dialogue and innovation in this field. Additionally, the SC-OCIS Scholar in Residence Fellowship Programme has supported cutting-edge research, reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a global leader in Islamic finance.

The dinner was attended by an illustrious gathering, including the 11th President of the Republic of Türkiye, Dr. Abdullah Gül, and the 10th Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah. Other distinguished guests included Yang di-Pertua Negeri Melaka, Tun Mohd Ali Rustam; Deputy Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi; Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Abang Openg; former Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Md Yasin; Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour; Chairman of the Securities Commission Malaysia, Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi; as well as Cabinet ministers, ambassadors, corporate leaders, muftis, and scholars.

This event not only celebrated OCIS’s 40 years of excellence but also reaffirmed the strong bonds between Malaysia, Asia, and the Centre, paving the way for continued collaboration in Islamic scholarship and global academic discourse.