22 May 2025, Kuala Lumpur – A strategic engagement session was held at the PPZ-MAIWP headquarters, convening representatives from the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Universiti Malaya (ISM-UM) and Etiqa Takaful Berhad to discuss the establishment of the proposed Etiqa-AZKA Corner at ISM and explore broader collaboration opportunities in student development.

The discussion, held at Wisma PPZ, was attended by Professor Dr. Ibrahim Mohamed, Head of ISM and Professor of Statistics, alongside his team. While Etiqa Takaful representative was Mr. Irfan. The session was facilitated by representatives from Akademi Zakat (AZKA) PPZ-MAIWP.

Vision for the Etiqa-AZKA Corner

The proposed Etiqa AZKA@ISM initiative, as presented in the ISM working paper, outlines a renovation project to transform and integrate two student learning spaces — ISMcube and Mathematics Tutorial Room 1 (BTM1) — into a modern, dual-purpose zone that supports collaborative learning, informal academic engagement, and outreach activities.

Beyond physical space, the Etiqa-AZKA Corner represents a symbol of strategic cooperation in higher education — where academia, industry, and Islamic social finance intersect for mutual enrichment.

Broader Areas of Collaboration

In addition to the facility upgrade, discussions also explored potential avenues for structured support from Etiqa, such as:

• Professional development sponsorships for actuarial science and statistics students

• Scholarships and fee subsidies for B40 students at undergraduate, master’s, and PhD levels

• Support for student-community engagement programmes, including academic competitions, community statistics outreach, and Islamic finance awareness campaignsKertas kerja etiqa

AZKA, as an academic and thought leadership arm of PPZ-MAIWP, sees this collaboration as a model for linking zakat-driven values with corporate social responsibility (CSR) frameworks in meaningful, measurable ways.

Conclusion

The meeting concluded with mutual optimism and a shared commitment to bring the Etiqa-AZKA Corner to life — not just as a learning hub, but as a centre for impact, innovation, and Islamic-inspired academic excellence.

We look forward to formalising this collaboration in the coming months and welcoming the future of industry-academic synergy in the heart of Universiti Malaya.