International Islamic University Malaysia advances SDG 5 through the IIUM Strategy Framework with Humanising Education and Maqasid Shariah (higher objectives of Islamic law) at its core. Its value-driven education promotes dignity, safety and fair opportunity for all. While experiential learning and community engagement support projects that uplift women and girls. IIUM’s responsible research initiatives informs teaching on gender justice and practical solutions. While the Sejahtera Academic Framework (holistic wellbeing) embeds inclusion in daily practice and strengthens jamiah insaniah (humane university). Furthermore, IIUM’s leadership ecosystems grow women’s leadership and mentoring. Additionally, its knowledge connectivity initiatives improves access to support services and flexible study.
The i-Perform, which consists of business intelligence dashboard and data warehouse has been implemented since 2014, provides “a single and trusted view” of quality data and information at the University level and across the KCDIOs. The system is managed by the Office for Strategy and Institutional Change (OSIC) and assisted by Information Technology Division (ITD). The Students section provides Facts and Figures for Intake and Enrolment with filters for session 2024/2025, programme level and study mode, and it displays female and male counts on the same screen. This shows a live system that measures and tracks women’s entry rates at intake and across enrolment.
Screenshots of IIUM iPerform portal
Source: https://iperform.iium.edu.my/
IIUM’s Admission Regulations require all applications to be processed through the Electronic Admission System (EAS) under the oversight of the Student Admission Committee and the Admission Committee. This provides a single, governed pathway for receiving, evaluating and approving applications. In parallel, the IIUM Filing Code prescribes central records categories that include “Projections and Statistics” and explicitly “statistics of existing students,” establishing an institutional practice for compiling and storing student statistics. Together, these two governance documents show that IIUM runs admissions through a defined system and maintains formal student statistics, which enables the University to systematically measure and report women’s application share, acceptance rate and entry rate.
The IIUM Admission Regulations establish a centralised admissions architecture through the Electronic Admission System and define the Student Admission Committee and Admission Committee for evaluation, selection and approval. This framework provides a consistent, transparent pathway for applications and decisions across intakes, supporting fair consideration and participation for women at application, acceptance and entry stages, in line with the indicator.
Furthermore, IIUM’s Student Mental Health Policy, states the University’s commitment to equality of opportunity and to eliminating unlawful discrimination. It explicitly welcomes applications from any qualified applicant and requires that applicants and students are treated justly and no less favourably in relation to admissions, with reasonable arrangements where needed. This University-wide commitment applies to women’s applications, acceptance, entry and participation, and satisfies the requirement for a formal policy that addresses access for women.
The IIUM Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance’s (IIiBF) flagship Islamic Social Finance for B40 Community 3.0 delivers women focused access provision through Jarum Emas programme at the Akar Budi Centre in Sg Pusu. The initiative aims to improve the livelihood of underserved women and connects them with practical skills and income opportunities. The flagship also runs BIMBING & BACA as a weekly community class that began on 13 July 2024 and continues on Saturdays for about one year. Sessions use prepared modules that build basic mathematics English and communication skills for B40 children who face barriers such as dropout or missing documents. The 2024 portfolio emphasises financial literacy and social entrepreneurship for asnaf communities and is supported by partners that include AZKA PPZ CENSERVE EDC Zurich Takaful Etiqa Takaful WADAH and SALWA. This constitutes a women’s access scheme with structured provision delivered in 2024 and aligns with the indicator.
Furthermore, the IUM Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance and Bank Islam launched the sixth iTEKAD Entrepreneur Hub at IIUM Gombak in December 2024. The Hub supports financial inclusion through practical entrepreneurship training with structured coaching and mentoring. It helps upcoming entrepreneurs learn business strategy, digital marketing, and the essentials of starting and running a venture. Bank Islam’s CEO outlined a clear focus on impact with attention to empowering women and supporting upward mobility. The launch took place alongside the 95th Islamic Banking and Finance Discussion Series and highlighted iTEKAD as a Shariah compliant social finance programme that blends Islamic banking with zakat and waqf to build resilient livelihoods.
In August 2024, IIUM Holdings opened applications for the Ayana Moon Scholarship, a women-only award for IIUM undergraduates with strong academic standing. The call specified eligibility for female students with a CGPA of 3.50, covered tuition fees for up to four years, demonstrating a targeted scholarship scheme that supports women’s access and participation at the University.
In August 2024, AHAS KIRKHS hosted the International Forum on Women in Action under its Scholarship Advancement Programme with the Women for Progress Research Unit. The event gathered regional experts and IIUM scholars to share pathways for social entrepreneurship, leadership and participation. The forum created networking, exposure and guidance that complement formal mentoring schemes, supporting women’s access and progression
The seminar benefitted from three prominent panels: Dr. Adeela Rehman (Fatimah Jinnah Women University, Pakistan), Dr Mohammed Farid Ali al Fijawi (Ulul Albab Islamic Institute, New Zealand) and Madam Anja Juliah Abu Bakar (Athena Holdings Sdn Bhd). It was mentioned in the Opening Remarks that Women in Action: Sustainable Ventures for Social Good is a forum that discusses issues of empowering women from Malaysia, Pakistan, and New Zealand. Women from various parts of the globe may have different motives and momentum in their efforts, but all of them are meant towards change and betterment. They wish to create and lead economically sustainable and socially impactful ventures.
Social entrepreneurship empowers the community, especially women, to drive community engagement and bring about meaningful change for their health and socioeconomic well-being. This relationship is rooted in the empowerment and inclusion that social entrepreneurship offers to women, who are often marginalised in traditional environments. This empowerment benefits the women themselves and has a ripple effect on their communities as they become role models and catalysts for change. Women’s unique perspectives and experiences enable them to effectively identify and address community needs, fostering inclusivity and resilience within the social fabric.
IIUM runs outreach in disciplines where women are underrepresented, with activities hosted at the Kulliyyah of Engineering to build confidence, networks and visibility for female students. In May 2024, a women’s empowerment workshop at the Kulliyyah of Engineering offered guidance on self-confidence and leadership for female participants, using the faculty setting to normalise women’s presence in Engineering and to encourage interest and retention. The need for such outreach is underscored by the November 2024 report that only two female graduands completed the Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical-Automotive) programme, signalling that women remain underrepresented in this subject. Together, the engineering-based workshop and the observed graduation profile show active encouragement of women in an underrepresented subject in 2024
Source: https://news.iium.edu.my/?p=181724&utm
During the seventh session of the 40th IIUM Convocation Ceremony 2024 on 19 November at IIUM Gombak, two remarkable ladies, Siti Aisyah Binti Galip and Siti Khadeejah Binti Ismail, made history by breaking barriers in a male-dominated field. They stood out as the only female graduands to receive their Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical-Automotive) (Honours).
Their achievement marks a significant step towards breaking gender barriers in Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). In an exclusive interview with IIUMToday, Siti Aisyah and Siti Khadeejah expressed their relief and congratulated each other for being able to graduate. The two first crossed paths in their second year and quickly formed a close bond after that.
The two female graduands agreed that their strong support system helped them endure tough times and gave them emotional support throughout their study, especially their families. Besides that, they emphasized the importance of having an understanding partner, noting that their field requires collaborations between both genders to succeed.
Siti Aisyah and Siti Khadeejah encouraged female students to take the degree if they were interested despite it having a larger number of male students. The Kulliyyah will provide students with an academic advisor to help guide their studies and there are many female lecturers who will help students too so it is bearable.
Source: : https://news.iium.edu.my/?p=179694
In May 2024, JK HEWI Harmoni IIUM ran the “Beauty Beyond the Mirror” workshop at the Kulliyyah of Engineering. The session focused on women’s empowerment and wellbeing, with interactive activities that fostered peer mentoring, confidence and practical skills. This co-curricular provision supports women’s participation and success beyond formal teaching.
IIUM’s 2024 student population confirms a female majority at the university level. Female students numbered 17,687 and male students numbered 11,248, which places women at about sixty-one percent of total enrolment. The university is already female-majority overall, so encouragement efforts are directed at subjects where women are still underrepresented, such as selected Engineering programmes.
The IIUM Student Disciplinary Rules updated set a clear prohibition on harassment on protected grounds that include sex and gender. The Rules define harassment as unwelcome verbal, written or physical conduct that demeans or humiliates a person and list outcomes such as hostile environment or interference with study. A dedicated clause on sexual harassment lists specific behaviours such as unwanted contact, demands for favours, sexually coloured remarks and distribution of obscene material. Sanctions include expulsion, suspension for up to one academic year, counselling and additional penalties under Rule 35. The Rules apply to all students and provide a formal university policy that prevents discrimination against women.
IIUM’s Management Services Division issued an FAQ on Staff Service Circular No. 22/2023 that sets maternity leave at 98 days per delivery. The FAQ confirms eligibility for permanent and contract staff and entitlement at five surviving children and explains how the policy applies in cases such as multiple births and stillbirth. This provides formal maternity protection that supports women’s continued participation in employment
IIUM’s Staff Handbook, provides a clear paternity leave provision for male staff whose wives have given birth. The policy grants seven days of unrecorded leave to assist with matters related to the newborn, helping fathers take an active role in early childcare. This support allows recent mothers to continue with studies or work while their partners share caregiving duties.
IIUM maintains on-campus childcare centres operated by IIUM Educare at the Gombak and Kuantan campuses, offering infant and toddler care from three months to three years, kindergarten for four to six, and after-school transit for seven to twelve. The published branches list shows Taska UIAM Gombak and Taska UIAM Kuantan located within IIUM, with direct contacts for enrolment, while the programmes page details the childcare and transit provision that supports parents who are studying. In 2024 the University also expanded recognised childcare options by including SASMEC@IIUM’s child care centre in the official list of eligible centres under the workplace subsidy circular, signalling active provision and governance of childcare that year. Together these sources demonstrate accessible childcare facilities on campus that enable recent mothers to resume courses
IIUM ran a series of women-centred mentoring and empowerment programmes in 2024 that provided guidance, skills and peer networks to support female students’ confidence, safety and participation. Examples include a women’s empowerment workshop hosted at the Kulliyyah of Engineering that fostered peer mentoring and leadership conversations among female students, the international “Women in Action” forum that connected students with regional experts and IIUM scholars for social entrepreneurship pathways, a campus self-defence workshop focused on practical personal-safety skills and confidence building, and a faith-and-life learning circle through the Fiqhul Mar’ah series for young women. Together these initiatives show an ongoing mentoring ecosystem across faculties and centres.
Picture from Empowering IIUM Women: Self-Defense Workshop boosts Confidence and Safety.
Source: https://news.iium.edu.my/?p=181976&utm_source=chatgpt.com
Picture from Fiqhul Mar’ah: A Series of Fiqh Education for the Younger Generation
Source: https://news.iium.edu.my/?p=182048&utm_
The 40th IIUM Convocation e-book (2024) records graduates by gender. It lists 2,594 female and 1,502 male graduates, with programme pages that name female and male graduands. This shows that IIUM measures and tracks women’s graduation outcomes in 2024. It enables direct comparison with men to monitor any gap.
IIUM’s Whistleblower Protection Policy (IWPP) applies to staff, students, and the public. It provides protection for people who report improper conduct in good faith. The disclosure form confirms coverage and sets the Ombudsman as the reporting channel. It requires identity disclosure to receive protection and lists sexual harassment within scope. These safeguards protect reporters from educational or employment disadvantage.
The IIUM IWPP are the procedures of voluntary act applicable to staff, students and members of the public to disclose/report any improper conduct which may constitute a disciplinary offence or a criminal offence committed or about to be committed by a staff and/or any person associated with the University. Whistleblowing is a disclosure/report by a person regarding any mismanagement, corruption, illegality, or any other wrongdoing carried out by any staff of the University.
IWPP is established to assist staff, students or members of the public to disclose any improper conduct and to ensure that such disclosures and/or reports are investigated and necessary action are taken through the Secretariat. Such improper conduct also includes but is not limited to the following:
ANONYMOUS REPORT
Anonymous disclosures will not be protected. To ensure the necessary protection, staff, students or members of the public who wish to report improper conduct are required to disclose their identities.
REPORTING CHANNELS
Disclosures shall be made in person to the Ombudsman.
All disclosures are to be reported in accordance with the procedures provided under the IWPP. All disclosures are encouraged to be reported via the provided format in ensuring all relevant information is enclosed.
Any other channel of reporting will not be entertained.
Upon receipt of the disclosure/report from the Whistleblower, the Ombudsman shall forward it to the Investigating Committee.
CONFIDENTIALITY
The identity of the Whistleblower shall be in the knowledge of the Ombudsman only and shall always be protected in any situation.
MAKING A DISCLOSURE
The reported disclosure must contain the following:
iii. supporting evidence (if any);
Disclosure of information can be delivered to:
Ombudsman
Office of the Ombudsman
Level 3, Muhammad Abdul Rauf building
International Islamic University Malaysia
P.O. Box 10, 50728 Kuala Lumpur.
Email: whistleblowing@iium.edu.my
Source: https://office.iium.edu.my/ombudsman/iium-whistleblower-protection-policy-iwpp/
