The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted lives and impacted how businesses function across the globe. In navigating these challenging times, organisations need to change in order to remain relevant.
IIUM Holdings Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), through its education division, is facing these challenges and moving forward based on four themes — Persevering though Challenging Times; Impacting the Society; Finding our Competitive Advantage and Becoming a Regional player.
Chairman of IIUM Holdings, Datuk Seri Dr Nik Norzrul Thani Nik Hassan Thani said IIUM holdings provided an enhanced quality education ecosystem of services, thanks to institutional collaboration and backing from a prominent public university.
The education division comprises four companies, which are IIUM Entrepreneurship and Consultancy Sdn Bhd (IEC), IIUM Higher Education Sdn Bhd, IIUM Schools Sdn Bhd and IIUM Educare Sdn Bhd.
“Collaboration and backing from a prominent public university with global presence and recognition such as IIUM generates multiple advantages, resulting in our company’s enhanced quality education ecosystem of early childhood education services provided by IIUM Educare Sdn Bhd, primary and secondary schools by IIUM Schools Sdn Bhd, preuniversity education through International Islamic College and tertiary education at IIUM.”
“The moving forward plan for all four subsidiaries under the IIUM Education Division will indeed position ourselves in a favourable position in the market, locally and in the region,” said Nik Norzrul.
“IIUM’s Education Division is offering premium academic services at an affordable price. As a member of IIUM, educational quality is evident and promises an exceptional quality of experience.
“With the trusted IIUM branding, we will gain a competitive edge in the market place, develop loyalty and enhanced credibility,” he added.
BACKGROUND
IEC was incorporated in 2001 to pilot the consultancy and business activities of IIUM. The company offers consultation services and activities in the areas of Economics, Management, Built Environment, Environmental Sciences, Law and Regulatory, Engineering, Medicine and Sciences, Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, Language and Literature and Information Communication Technology.
IIUM Higher Education Sdn Bhd (IHESB) manages the International Islamic College (IIC), which aims to become the preferred educational institution distinguished with overall excellence encompassing academic quality, technical and vocational proficiency as well as spiritual piety.
It is recognised by the Higher Education Ministry and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), and is proud to be the first private college offering Open Distance Learning academic programmes.
IIUM Schools Sdn Bhd (ISSB), which was formed in 1997, aims to provide an integrated and holistic education which adheres to the Islamic tenets and values at the primary, secondary and A-levels.
It currently offers the Malaysian National Curriculum and the Cambridge International Curriculum at Sekolah Setiabudi, International Islamic School Malaysia (IISM) and the IISM Kuantan Branch.
Meanwhile, IIUM Educare provides Early Childhood care and education services for the IIUM community, government-linked companies and private companies as well as the public.
It has operated preschool and childcare centres since 2015 for companies such as Telekom Malaysia Berhad, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad, and most recently the Securities Commission. It has 19 branches with more than 1,000 children.
“IIUM Education Division provides academic services from early child management (iEducare) to the primary and secondary studies (ISchools) and further to higher education (IIC) and lifelong learning (IEC) to ensure the continuation of different academic levels.
“In ensuring that a quality education is adopted, we have always engaged with our stakeholders for substantial improvements to provide latest education and consultancy solutions through research and development (R&D) in meeting the required standards.
“We believe a birth-to-grave education is vital for lifelong learning to acquire the limitless knowledge in this world. The different academic levels that we manage provide the invaluable experience in broadening our education landscape,” he said.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Each company has come up with solutions that benefit and impact society.
IEC has introduced the White Label Solutions for Aspiring Entrepreneurs programme, an all-in solution for entrepreneurs to produce and market quality cosmoceutical and day-to-day household products which are formulated and perfected for commercialisation by leading experts in IIUM.
IIUM Higher Education has established IIUM external degree programmes to leverage on the symbiotic relationship with the university. It has also introduced Technical and Vocational Education and Training programmes to create a skilled workforce.
IHESB targets to open 10 branches in the next five years in the area of TVET and to explore collaborations with technical overseas partners.
Its first school was established in Gombak in 1998, followed by a second branch in Kuantan in 2012. The upcoming branches are expected to seal the company’s position as a market leader to provide private education services.
IIUM Educare has introduced Educare Premier, a higher end of kindergartens for the upper middle-class market segment which offers a digital curriculum with a ratio of 1:1 for children to device.
Every class is equipped with a smart TV, a dedicated Play-to-Learn area as well as a Reading Pod.
The first Educare Premier class is set to begin this year at the Educare branch at IIUM International School Campus, Gombak.
FINDING ITS COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
“IIUM Holdings Sdn Bhd education subsidiaries offer holistic educational experiences to the clients, and provide a trusted brand of comprehensive, award-winning education system from kindergarten to college as well as exceptional consultancy services,” Nik Norzrul said.
He added that the respective companies complement and leverage on each other’s strengths in growing their competitiveness in the market thus moving well to becoming a public listed company in the future.
For example, IEC will provide a bespoke syariah-based training programme, the Certificate in Islamic Banking and Finance for Legal Practitioners (CIBFL) for all legal practitioners as panel lawyers for the leading Islamic banks in Malaysia.
IIUM Higher Education is set to move to a new flagship campus and move towards university college status, while IIUM schools will be providing new inhouse student accommodation and move towards being a 5-star rating full boarding school, and IIUM Educare is expected to transform from an operator of early childhood education to a franchisor, offering quality enhanced Educare syllabus for kindergarten and childcare services at office buildings and preferred sites for the benefit of employees.
BECOMING A REGIONAL PLAYER
As part of its plans to go global, IEC will focus on syariah-based consultancy services coupled with Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) hand-holding initiatives, and offer world-class research for all high-impact projects on a par with the leading consultancy global firms.
In staying true to the concept of”cradle-to-grave”, IIUM Higher Education is addressing the needs of elderly with an Elderly Care Centre is to focus on lifelong learning experiences.
The main aim is for the elderly to continue becoming lifelong learners in order to keep on contributing back to the society. In line with this, IIC will introduce Diploma and Bachelor programmes in primary care for the elderly to complement the centre.
IIUM Schools is embarking on its brainchild project, the World’s First IGCSE’s Islamic History Textbook, and hopes to penetrate the Korean and Japanese markets with Intensive English with Golfing Skill programmes.
IIUM Educare is in the final stage of establishing a franchise model that will empower stakeholders in growing a successful and rewarding education franchise model.
For the global market, the newly improved “Enhanced Educare “curriculum incorporates Leadership,Technology, Sense of Empathy and “play-to-learn”, with the inculcation of Islamic teachings and values.
Source – NST