The 2022 cohort of graduates from Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation (CISAC), Charles Sturt University (CSU) in partnership with the Islamic Sciences and Research Academy (ISRA) received their awards at the graduation ceremony held on Saturday 10 December 2022 at Waterview, Sydney Olympic Park.
This was the 10th annual graduation ceremony for CISAC with the largest number of graduating students and a record number with medals, four high achievers awarded the Post-Graduate University Medal with high distinction averages while one student was awarded University Medal completing her bachelors degree.
There were 58 graduating students, 1 Associate Degree in Islamic Studies, 2 Diploma of Islamic Studies, 20 Bachelor of Islamic Studies, 2 Graduate Certificate in Classical Arabic, 5 Graduate Certificate in Islamic Studies, 3 Graduate Diploma of Classical Arabic, 4 Graduate Diploma of Islamic Studies, 11 Master of Arts (Classical Arabic), 10 Master of Islamic Studies and 1 Doctor of Philosophy.
The Postgraduate University Medal recipients included Eden Kabir, Veronika Newton, Asim Razi completing Masters of Classical Arabic and Saba Swan completing Master of Islamic Studies. Jinane Jomaa received a University Medal completing Bachelor of Islamic Studies.
Additionally Marcel Boulad and Hafsah Khan completed Bachelor of Islamic Studies with Distinction while Rinto Azhar and Nour Kamleh completed Master of Islamic Studies with Distinction.
Mir Sadeq Ansari was the sole awardee this year with a Doctor of Philosophy Degree.
The graduands were presented to Professor Graham Brown, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and received their awards from Professor John McDonald,Executive Dean Faculty of Arts and Education, both from CSU.
ISRA graduations are a unique combination of intellectual, academic, emotional and spiritual experience held in a dignified yet family-friendly atmosphere where the graduating student is given the opportunity to deliver a short reflection on his/her educational experience.
The formal program was started by the MC Berat Karaca with the entry of the academic procession followed by the national anthem.
After Acknowledgement of Country, in order to commence the proceedings, one of the Bachelor of Islamic Studies graduate, Mohamed Younus Mohamed Saheed Ali, recited from the Holy Quran, Sarah Rahman verses 1-28.
A/Prof Mehmet Ozalp, Executive Director of CISAC, CSU delivered the Welcome Address, congratulating the graduating students and their families for support.
Imam Salman Parkar was the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony. Born in Hobart, Tasmania, he serves as the Imam of the largest mosque in Western Australia, Masjid Al-Raḥmān, Gosnells.
Imam Salmaan supplemented his previous religious studies by completing a Bachelor of Islamic Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Contemporary Islamic Studies at ISRA and is currently writing his Masters Thesis, pursuing a Master of Islamic Studies.
During his address, Imam Salmaan talked about his journey of pursuing Islamic education and shared his valuable experience in providing religious and educational service to the Muslim community in WA.
The graduating students were formally congratulated by Prof Graham Brown who were welcomed with gifts by the ISRA Alumni community.
Prof John McDonald congratulated CISAC staff for disseminating educational excellence to their students and commended their programs that were attracting new students well and above the numbers expected.
Dr Zuleyha Keskin, Course Director based in Melbourne addressed the students to conclude the program by turning towards their families and thanking them for their support.
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