ENGLISH EDI - OVERRIDING STRATEGY IN DEVELOPING THE CAMBODIAN MUSLIM COMMUNITY

This book was first published and officially launched during the University of Cambodia University of Management and Technology (CUMT) opening ceremony, marking an important milestone in the Cambodian Muslim community’s contribution to the development of higher education.

The University is for Cambodian Muslims and all Cambodians, reflecting our broader commitment to national progress. On behalf of the Cambodian and international teams, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Government of Cambodia for its unwavering support in establishing CUMT. Special thanks also go to the Al-Rajhi Endowment Fund in Saudi Arabia for their generous financial contributions, which made the realization of this university possible.

The idea for CUMT was conceived in 2014, and it has since been officially recognized by the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) under sub-degree No. 63, issued on 28 March 2022. The university has also received other relevant legal documents and accreditation from the Accreditation Committee of Cambodia (ACC). The first phase of CUMT focuses on providing programs in Management and Technology, disciplines that are crucial for fostering a progressive and sustainable society.

A special acknowledgement goes to Dr. Shaya’a bin Othman for his efforts in writing this book, *Overriding Strategy in Developing the Cambodian Community*, which outlines strategies for the Cambodian Muslim community to organize and chart their contributions. He proposes tactical approaches in the fields of education, social development, and economic growth, including the formulation of an Islamic Quality Standard—an integrated educational syllabus that combines Islamic revealed knowledge with conventional technical knowledge for all schools, colleges, and universities. Additionally, he emphasizes the need to establish educational infrastructures, whether hybrid or online, including schools, colleges, and universities, to further these goals.

In this book, Dr, Shaya'a also suggests the establishment of the Cambodian Muslim Wakaf Development Foundation (CMWD), which would not only focus on education but also on the social and economic development of the Muslim community. He advocates for CMWD to adopt *Maqasid alShariah* (The Developmental Ultimate Objectives of Shariah) as an overarching strategy, ensuring that efforts in education, social development, and economic growth are aligned and mutually reinforcing.

His Excellency Dr. Husen Mohammad Farid

President of Board of Trustees Cambodia University of Management and Technology

21st October 2024