The PSU College of Islamic Studies (CIS), Pattani Campus, and Yala Islamic University co-hosted the Second International Islamic Studies Conference titled "Islamic Studies in a Changing World: Challenges and Opportunities", from January 14 – 16, 2013. Honorable ministers, muftis, rectors, prominent Muslim scholars, knowledgeable researchers and educationists attended this conference shared and exchanged remarkable ideas about Islamic Studies in today's changing world. There were 158 foreign delegates and 387 local participants attending this conference. The foreign participants came from: Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Chad, China, Egypt, France, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Liberia, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, and UAE, etc.
The conference was officially open by His Excellency Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisarn, Minister of the Thai Prime Minister Office, and the inaugural prayer was honored by His Excellency Honorable Aziz Pithakkumpon, Jularajmontri of the Royal Kingdom of Thailand. Other honorable guest was His Excellency Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, Leader of the Thai Democrat Party, who presented the conference reflections.
During the conference were presented many academic papers, researches, and round table discussions on Islamic Studies from worldwide universities and institutions, in order to find ways of how Islamic Studies could manage effectively with today's changing world challenges. Other important aim of the conference was to provide frameworks of thoughts and ways to handle the massive flow of knowledge coded in informative systems in such a troublesome and unstable contemporary changing world. Distinguished keynote speakers presented papers regarding the Islamic Studies in the changing world, with topics related to: Studies in Islamic thought and its tools, methodology and approaches; Islamic Studies in socio-cultural changes; Islamic Studies in production and consumption; and Islamic Studies in constructive critique and evaluation.
One of the most significant moments of this conference was the approval and signature of the Fatoni Declaration, through which the Conference delegates have unanimously agreed on several key principles of Islamic Studies, as follows: Islamic Studies shall emphasize important values such as: Balance, Comprehensiveness, Diversity, Flexibility, and Excellence; Islamic Studies shall focus on protection and promotion of human rights and security for regional and global peace and harmony; Islamic Studies shall provide problem-solving mechanisms to overcome problems and crisis; Islamic Studies, in this respect, will ensure sustainability of human society and natural environment.
The conference also facilitated several bilateral meetings between PSU and institutions from Middle East (Jordan, Morocco), Europe (Turkey), Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia), and Australia, etc.
The Closing Ceremony of the International Conference was honored by H.E. Mr. Sermsak Pongpanit, Deputy Minister of Education, who addressed an inspiring speech to all participants, and encouraged everyone to bring the knowledge gained during this conference to make a difference in the Islamic Studies of today's changing world.
