NEVER judge the book by its cover. And perhaps in the case of the University College of Islam Melaka (UCIM) by its name.
Located in Kuala Sungai Baru, Alor Gajah, UCIM is noted for being a private Islamic institute of higher learning but it is not an exclusive educational centre for Muslims alone.
UCIM is also open to non-Muslims and this is the message which its vice-chancellor Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohd Yusoff Hashim is trying to get to the public, not only in the Historical City but the nation.
"There is a perception that UCIM is exclusive to Muslims but this is not correct. The university college is open to all Malaysians, regardless of their race, religion and social background.
"There is even a presumption that anyone who is not a Muslim and enrols with UCIM would be asked to convert and embrace Islam. These are all not true as we adopt the 1Malaysia concept," he says.
More than 40 non-Muslim students are currently enrolled into UCIM and many are pursuing diplomas in nursing, hotel management, tourism management, event management, finance, accounting, marketing, business information system and biotechnology.
"Our convocation ceremony is on July 28, and out of the 747 who will graduate, 25 are Indians followed by nine from Sabah and Sarawak and Chinese (four)."
Yusoff says non-Muslim students enrolling into UCIM need not undertake Islamic studies but they will be taught moral studies.
"However, basic Arabic is a must for all students in UCIM and this is more for communication skills.
"I must say that we have had some Indian students who are fluent in Arabic, so much so that they are the envy of their Malay counterparts."
Yusoff says non-Muslim students also need not headscarf but must be decently attired.
Another advantage of studying in UCIM, according to Yusoff, is that the fee structure is much lower compared with other institutions of higher learning in the country.
"At UCIM, one needs between RM15,000 and RM23,000 to complete a diploma, compared with between RM20,000 and RM25,000 in other universities.
"Students at UCIM are also eligible for study loans from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation.
"If a student excels in his or her studies and becomes the top student at UCIM, his fees will be fully paid for by our subsidiary, which is ICM Industries Corporation Bhd."
UCIM offers degrees and diplomas in nursing, hotel management, tourism management, event management, finance, accounting, marketing, business information system, Islamic management and administration, Islamic studies with human resource development, law and syariah, counselling, syariah and finance, biotechnology, syariah Islamiyyah, usuluddin and Tahfiz Al-Quran Wal Qiraat.
The diploma courses take three years while for a degree course, it takes between 31/2 and four years.
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