Dr. Abubakar Abubakar Usman is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of International and Strategic Studies at Universiti Malaya (UM), Malaysia, where he specializes in globalization, development, and the politics of Africa and the Middle East. With a multidisciplinary academic background spanning International Relations, Diplomacy, and Islamic Finance, Dr. Usman is a prolific scholar whose work bridges theory and policy. Academic LeadershipDr. Usman currently serves as a Guest Lecturer at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, teaching Politics and International Relations of the Middle East. He has also been invited as a Guest Speaker at institutions such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Nile University Nigeria, where he shared expertise on diplomacy, conflict resolution, and strategic studies. His teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking and real-world applicability, honed through roles as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and as an English instructor for Saudi Schools Kuala Lumpur. Research ContributionsA dedicated researcher, Dr. Usman has held prestigious fellowships, including as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at IIUM’s Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance (IIiBF), where he explored the intersection of Islamic finance and global development. As a Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Africa Studies Circle at the Asia Middle East Centre for Research and Dialogue (AMEC), he fosters cross-civilizational dialogue and evidence-based policy recommendations. His research has been published in high-impact journals such as South African Journal of International Affairs, Global Society, and Contemporary Islam, and he has contributed chapters to Routledge and Palgrave Macmillan volumes on Islamic finance, African diplomacy, and human rights. Dr. Usman actively engages in peer review for Web of Science-indexed journals, including Security Journal and SN Social Sciences, and is currently developing two book projects: The Political Economy of Africa-Asia Relations (Routledge) and Coups in 21st Century Africa (Palgrave Macmillan). His doctoral thesis on Boko Haram’s media strategies and master’s research on Islamic finance as a development tool reflect his commitment to addressing pressing global challenges. Policy and Public EngagementBeyond academia, Dr. Usman is a sought-after commentator on African geopolitics, contributing to platforms like Africa@LSE, Daily Trust, and The Conversation. His analyses on ECOWAS, military coups, and Nigeria’s foreign policy have shaped public discourse. He has also served as an interpreter and translator for Malaysian government agencies, leveraging fluency in English, Arabic, and Hausa. Education and Honors PhD in International Relations (Globalization & Development), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Master of Diplomacy and Strategic Studies (CGPA: 4.00), UKM Master of Political Science (CGPA: 3.83), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) BA in Arabic/Mass Communication, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria Professional Affiliations Member, International Studies Association (ISA) Associate Member, International Society for Development and Sustainability (ISDS) For a full list of publications and research projects, visit his Google Scholar or ORCID profiles. Contact:Email: abubakar.usman@um.edu.my | Phone: +60 162417993Address: Department of International and Strategic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya

    Dr. Zaharah Hussin is a Professor in the Department of Educational Foundation and Humanities, Faculty of Education, Universiti  Malaya (UM) born in Kedah. Prior to that, she was a secondary school teacher, SLAB tutor, lecturer and senior lecturer at UM. She is also a person who is also entrusted with administrative duties at UM since she started working as a lecturer in 1997 until now, starting from as the coordinator of Teaching Training, Head of Department and was the Deputy Dean (Higher Degree) in her Faculty. Her academic expertise is in the field of teacher training and educational research especially Islamic Education, Curriculum, Values ​​and Akhlak Education, philosophy in education, content analysis, Delphi techniques in research, model development and qualitative research in general. Dr. Zaharah is also active in publishing articles in national and international journals, academic books and presentations in conferences and webinars. Her book published by UM publisher entitled Akhlak  Education: Curriculum Analysis and Design was awarded the National Book Award 2018 Education category by the National Book Development Foundation in conjunction with the Book Fair 2018. He has also contributed teachers, researchers and experts particularly in Islamic Education field locally and internationally.  

Roshidah Hassan is an Associate Professor at the Department of Asian Languages, Universiti Malaya. She served as Deputy Dean (Undergraduate Studies) from 2018 to 2022 and previously headed the Department of Asian and European Languages. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Malay Studies (Linguistics) and a PhD from Universiti Malaya, as well as a Diploma in French Studies from the University of La Rochelle and a Master’s in Teaching French as a Foreign Language from the University of Poitiers. Her teaching covers French syntax, morphology, phonetics, and phonology. Her research focuses on language acquisition, phonetics, phonology, and ethnolinguistics. She is currently involved in documenting endangered Orang Asli languages and investigating how Malaysian learners acquire French sounds. She also conducts research on the preservation of Portuguese Creole in Malacca. Her work contributes to sustaining linguistic diversity and enhancing language education for minority and indigenous communities in Malaysia.