With their annual conference just over in Hagerstown, Virginia, a group of 86 Malaysian and Indonesian college students paid an afternoon visit to IIIT on Thursday, December 27.

IIIT has had training and mentoring relationship with Malaysian and Indonesian students in the past through its department of human development. The visit offered an opportunity to a new generation of students to connect with IIIT and its leadership, which has had a significant role in the founding and early growth of the Malaysian Islamic Study Group (MISG). Lately MISG has merged with its Indonesian counterpart and they now serve students from both countries.

The visiting students were welcomed by IIIT vice president Dr. Jamal Barzinji, who later addressed them on the subject of the role of IIIT vis a vis the identity of American Muslims and the significance of their American citizenship. Dr. Hisham Altalib recounted the establishment and development of the MISG idea within the context of the Muslim Students Association of the U.S. and Canada (MSA). Dr. Iqbal Unus referred to the students’ role as future leaders and shapers of their societies and spoke about the teaching and education function of IIIT through its division The Fairfax Institute. Dr. Abubaker Al-Shingieti talked about IIIT’s research agenda and introduced the 2008 summer internships for college students. Visiting students asked a number of questions related to early history as well as how they could benefit from the approach and perspective that IIIT offered.

After the visit the students were hosted at a sumptuous dinner at a nearby Chinese restaurant. It was an occasion for enjoying good food and great company, with discussion among students and IIIT leaders and staff continuing late into the evening.