1 Working Paper in Islamic Economics and Finance No. 0912 TOWARDS ENHANCING RESEARCH IN ISLAMIC ECONOMICS AND FINANCE IN MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITIES Shahida Shahimi 1 Abdul Ghafar Ismail 2 Suhaili Alma’amun 3 Islamic Economics and Finance Research Group (EKONIS) School of Economics Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 43600 Bangi, Selangor, MALAYSIA Tel: +603-8921 5730/5760 Fax: +603-8921 5789 Email: shahida@ukm.my , agibab@ukm.my , alieyalien@yahoo.com Paper to be presented at The 1 st INSANIAH-IRTI International Conference on Islamic Economics, Banking and Finance (ICIEBF) 2009 organized by Kulliyah of Muamalat, Insaniah University College (KUIN), Alor Setar, Kedah & IRTI, IDB, Jeddah at Awana Porto Malai, Langkawi, Malaysia, 18-19th August 2009. ABSTRACT The surge of enrolment in Islamic and finance academic programs in recent decade especially at the post- graduate level along with increasing institutions offering such courses are evidence of the growing demand for graduates from local and international Islamic financial industries. Nonetheless, the above enthusiasms are not well supported by overwhelming quantity and quality research as one of main output of the programs. Above and beyond the graduates produced, research in Islamic economics and finance so far has 1 Senior lecturer of Islamic Economics, Banking & Finance School of Economics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. (corresponding author). 2 Professor of Banking and Financial Economics, School of Economics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. 3 Lecturer of Islamic Economics, School of Economics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia & PhD candidate of Durham Islamic Finance Programme, Institute of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, Durham University. Research Center for Islamic Economics and Finance Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia Fax: +603-89215789 http://www.ekonis-ukm.my E-mail: ekonis@ukm.my