REFORMING THE SYARIAH STUDIES IN MALAYSIAN HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTION

With the coming of modern time signified by the globalization, the present Malaysian Higher Education Ministry had initiated various reforms to provide the Malay-Muslim society with the competent and modern educational system. In this article we will demonstrate such reformation program by focusing upon the Syariah studies in the University of Malaya. This paper is designed to be divided into several sections. First, is about Islamic resurgence in Malaysia and its impact upon the present government educational policies. Second, the Malaysian’s government policies towards reforming the higher learning institution. Third, the concept of Syariah studies in Islam followed by the introduction of Academy of Islamic Studies in University of Malaya and its reform program, which will emphasize on the use of new curriculum as well as pedagogical approaches. Among such approaches are the