Study Plans Committee Considers Introducing Courses in Digital Finance
Minnesota, January 2, 2026 - In a step aimed at keeping pace with global transformations in the financial sector, the Curriculum and Study Plans Committee of the Islamic Economics and Banking Department at the Islamic University of Minnesota held its periodic meeting to discuss the development of its academic programs. The meeting was held on the evening of Thursday, January 1, 2026, chaired by the Department Head, Dr. Zayed Nawaf Al-Duwairi, and attended by the Vice Dean of the College of Economics and Business Administration, Dr. Manal Muhammad Mahmoud, along with committee members and administrative affairs officials.
During the meeting, Dr. Manal Mahmoud affirmed that the committee's recommendations "represent a real catalyst for the academic journey of the department," expressing her full support for its outcomes in light of the university's constant endeavor to develop its programs in response to the requirements of the times.
Attendees discussed the latest updates regarding uploading the descriptions of current courses to the approved electronic platform. They also addressed proposals to introduce new courses focusing on modern fields, most notably a comprehensive course in financial technology covering applications of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and cybersecurity; a specialized course in Shariah standards for modern financial operations; in addition to a course on endowment economics and its role in sustainable development.
The meeting witnessed extensive discussion on creating an overarching course under the title "Islamic Finance," which would include governance and Shariah standards. Emphasis was placed on the importance of preparing academic cadres capable of teaching these emerging specializations, whether through internal qualification or cooperation with other scientific departments at the university.
The committee also adopted a practical proposal to create a unified electronic repository containing all scientific materials and course descriptions. This aims to enable faculty members to access information quickly and facilitate the preparation of new courses, which will positively reflect on the efficiency of the educational process and the quality of its outputs.
The meeting concluded with a recommendation to hold a coordination meeting with the Dean of the College, Dr. Waleed Al-Meneesee, to formally approve the proposed courses. This paves the way for starting the executive procedures to include them in the department's study plan at the beginning of the next academic year.
