This article outlines two major challenges to environmental sustainability. First is the challenge of secularisation or the secular worldview, specifically the disenchantment of nature, which provides a fertile ground for the emergence of the materialistic, irresponsible, and selfish man. Second is the challenge of the reduction of religion as a result of a backward and shallow understanding of religion, such that Islam is viewed as being static and powerless in providing solutions for today’s civilisational and global challenges. Therefore, this article (...) explains, concisely and precisely, albeit with extensive and intensive meanings, some important and relevant concepts such as ʿibādah, taklīf, khalīfah, amānah, taskhīr, ʿālam, al-dīn, al-Sharīʿah, iṣlāḥ, adab, ʿamal ṣāliḥ, iḥsān, itqān, taqwā, and ṣadaqah to identify the general principles of environmental philosophy and ethics from the perspective of Islam. (shrink)

The aim of the research was to identify the principal and headmasters’ competency level in Johor Bahru. The competencies were subdivided into four dimensions Intellectual intelligence Emotional Intelligence Spiritual Intelligent, and Skills Intelligent. A number of 113 respondents were involved in the study via purposive sampling. The questionnaire used consisted of 57 items which was based on items taken from the Florida Principal Competencies published by Florida Council on Educational Management. The Alpha Cronbach value for the instrument was 0.803. The (...) data was analyzed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences for Windows to reveal the means, percentages, and inferential statistics for the findings. The results showed that the principal and headmasters’ competencies were measured at high level for all the dimensions studied. Few suggestions were put forth to improvise the questionnaire and methodology for future research. (shrink)

The national awareness on science literacy is an international phenomenon and a matter of considerable concern among educators in Malaysia. The number of students furthering their studies in the field of science has dropped to a critical state as many lack understanding on the philosophy of science. This study was conducted to explore teachers’ and students scientific epistemological understanding on the nature of physics knowledge. This was done through a quantitative study that involved statistical analysis to measure teachers’ and students’ (...) epistemological understanding towards physics subject. The study started with identifying the components of scientific epistemology that best suits Malaysian culture and context. Epistemology is the study of knowledge and its acquisition process. Scientific epistemology consists of practical and formal epistemology with respect to nine elements: application of physics concept in real life; mathematics in physics; generating knowledge; source of knowledge; the degree of scientific validity; creativity; diversity of scientific method; scientific laws and theories; and observation and inferences. This study developed an instrument called Scientific Epistemological Measurement for Teacher and Scientific Epistemological Measurement for Sttudent toward physics knowledge based on previous studies within Malaysian science education context. These instruments were administered to 70 physics teachers and 255 students in Johor Bahru. The data showed that there were four levels of scientific epistemological that include naive, low transition, high transition, and sophisticated. The findings indicated that the average level of teachers’ and students scientific epistemological level is at the low transition level. Teachers’ educational background and students achievement in PMR sciences shows contribution towards level of epistemological thinking. The effects and the role of teachers’ scientific epistemology in the formation of students' understanding of physics is shown by five epistemological models that were built at the end of the study using stepwise multiple regression analysis. The study found that the sustainability epistemology components in science education helps to stimulate the development of a more balanced scientific culture among teachers and students. (shrink)

GaN is a wide bandgap semiconductor with superb thermal, chemical, mechanical and electrical properties which makes it suitable for high power electronic and optoelectronic devices. Si substrate is preferable for the heterostructure growth of GaN due to its availability in large wafer size, low price and maturity. The co-integration of GaN-based devices on Si is very attractive towards the realization of advanced heterogeneous integration. A transformation of the grown Ga2O3 structures on Si to GaN by a so-called nitridation process is (...) considered as a simple method to create a GaN/Si heterostructure. In the first stage, a synthesis of ß-Ga2O3 nanostructures on Si substrate by electrochemical deposition using a mixture of Ga2O3, HCl, NH4OH, and H2O was performed. The morphologies strongly depended on the molarity of Ga2O3 and pH level of electrolyte. ß-Ga2O3 nanodot-like structures were grown at low molarity of Ga2O3. However, Ga2O3 nanodot structures covered with nanorods on top of their surfaces were obtained at higher molarity, and the densities of nanorods seem to increase with the decrease of pH level. In the next stage, the nitridation of the electrodeposited Ga2O3 was performed. The complete nitridation was achieved at temperature of 900°C. Here, several prominent diffraction peaks correspond to hexagonal GaN planes were detected with no diffraction peak of Ga2O3 structure. Temperature is a key parameter in a nitridation process where the deoxidization rate of Ga2O3 to generate gaseous Ga2O increase with temperature. It was found that a complete transformation cannot be realized without a complete deoxidization of Ga2O3. A significant change of morphological structures takes place after a complete transformation of Ga2O3 to GaN where the original nanorod structures of Ga2O3 diminish, and a new nanowire-like GaN structures appear. The studied method seems to be promising in producing high-quality h-GaN nanostructures on Si. (shrink)

This study aims to identify the use of external support systems by counselors located at the Council within the Islamic Religious Department in Malaysia. Data for this research was collected using a case study. The case study included an interview of five registered counselors in Islamic Organization in Malaysia. This study was based on a qualitative approach and data were analyzed using N’Vivo 7.0. The data were developed into appropriate themes and sub-themes. The study revealed that the external support system (...) should be applied to Muslim counselors and Muslim converts. This research could be used as a guide for a counselor to be more robust in providing guidance and counseling services to specific clients, such as, new Muslim converts. (shrink)

The main aim of this article is to discuss several important aspects regarding the standardization of Islamic education excellence. This paper will look at the implementation of Islam education in the Muslim world today. Basically Islamic education in the Muslim world is currently viewed as a subject matter or as an educational system. Generally, three interrelated aspects contribute to the excellence of Islamic education have been recognized, i.e. concept of Islamic education; teaching and learning model; and teacher responsibilities. It is (...) important to note that there are five domains or standards of teacher teaching practices in Islam, i.e. Mudarris, Muaddib, Mu`allim, Mursyid and Murabbi. Research also plays very important role to develop the quality of education system. In improving the quality of education system, the concept of Tawhid and six main principles of methodology of research should be observed in carrying out research. Finally, there are at least five main challenges that have been identified in the implementation of Islamic education system today. (shrink)