Islamic Relief Academy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Essex Business School at the University of Essex for a joint collaborative partnership covering research and development.
Islamic Relief Academy is the leading Islamic Humanitarian training and research centre in the West
Dr Muhtari-Aminu Kano, Head of Research and Development at Islamic Relief Academy, acting on behalf of Dr Hossam Said, Managing Director of Islamic Relief Academy, and Professor Geoffrey Wood, Dean of Essex Business School, signed the Memorandum at a ceremony held at the University of Essex’s Colchester Campus.
Also present at the signing was Stephen Terry, Head of Learning and Development at Islamic Relief Academy, Ville Karhusaari, Knowledge Exchange Manager at the University of Essex, Professor Vania Sena, Head of the Management Science and Entrepreneurship group at Essex Business School, and Dr Shamsul Karim, Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at Essex Business School.
The Memorandum of Understanding highlights the wider scope to promote partnerships to benefit mutual learning and cooperation between the Islamic Relief Academy and Essex Business School.
A collaborative project is already underway with Dr Karim assessing the impact of Islamic Relief Bangladesh’s micro-entrepreneurship activities on poverty reduction in the country. The work is funded through the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Impact Acceleration Account where funding has been awarded to the University of Essex to support knowledge exchange and impact activities by academics which enables their social science research to contribute to economic and societal development.
Essex Business School has an international reputation for championing responsible management and sustainable business.
Ranked in the UK's top 20 (Association of Business Schools), Essex Business School has a thriving research community committed to investigating vital issues faced by commercial businesses, public sector bodies and not-for-profit organisations. This includes research into tax avoidance, gender prejudice and accounting in emerging economies.
Essex Business School’s strengths in academic research and desire to produce innovative solutions for organisations complement Islamic Relief Academy's presence and capabilities across the development sector including its vision to participate in and influence internal and external stakeholders through research. This offers a good environment for collaborative, cutting edge and impact driven research.
Dr Hossam Said, Managing Director of Islamic Relief Academy believes that a joint collaboration will make a significant and interdisciplinary contribution to social development and long-term alleviation of global poverty: “The signing of the memorandum cements our firm commitment to bring social transformation for a sustainable future as well as a mission of undertaking research that empowers people and communities.”
In his address, Professor Geoffrey Wood, Dean of Essex Business School said: “I welcome the opportunity to work with the Islamic Relief Academy in developing new research agendas, knowledge exchange activities and extracurricular and postgraduate educational opportunities.”