Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Banking and Finance

Programme Background and Rationale

The growing demand for banking and finance services in Somaliland now require highly effective, efficient and transparent financial sector. The conventional banks and their traditional financial modalities cannot meet the basic conditions and requirements of a Muslim society. The conventional banking sector’s principles and their overall methodologies and goals do not wholly conform to the fundamental Islamic principles in many ways. For example, usuries and interest-bearing transactions which are the backbone of income in the conventional baking model are prohibited in the Islamic faith. While the fundamental agenda of conventional banking system is profit, the Islamic banking model promoted service. Islamic banking and financing in the light of Islamic Shariah is an alternative to the conventional banking model. This programme is designed to respond to the growing demand for qualified professionals in the areas of Islamic banking and finance to serve the country through provision of banking services within Islamic principles. The programme responds to the country’s growing demand for highly qualified and trained professionals in banking and finance in the light of Islamic Shariah. Somaliland people are legally Muslims and the banking and finance sectors should reflect Islamic laws. This is the surest way to increase the banked population and improve the contribution of banking services to the national economy. This programme will produce high level professionals in Islamic banking who can contribute to the realization of effective, efficient, and reliable Islamic banking sector in the horn of Africa and beyond. The program provides a complete basis for professional development and for further education in Islamic banking and finance through well designated practical courses and research work.

Prorgamme Objectives

General Objective

The overall objective of this bachelor of Arts in Islamic banking and finance programme is to produce highly qualified manpower in the field of Islamic banking and finance, with a concrete knowledge of financing theories, principles and models as applied to development issues, and other socio-economic matters relating to Somaliland and to developing countries in particular, and the world in general, but in the context of Islamic principles. They should be able to serve professionally in the banking and finance sector with the background and foresight of Islamic principles.

Specific Objectives

By the end of the programme, students should:

  1. Demonstrate concrete understanding of the fundamental Islamic finance and banking theories, principles, and models, and of their application in the study and practice of banking and finance.
  2. Demonstrate a detailed grasp of the methodologies of Islamic finance, and the capacity to perform financial analysis in the light of Islamic banking and finance at local and international level.
  3. Display broad understanding of the evolution of Islamic banking and finance and of its impact on banking and finance systems at all level, now and in the future.
  4. Display a complete and up to date knowledge of the dynamics of banking and finance sectors in the contemporary world with respect to Islamic principles.