Melton local Faryal Rizwan will soon embark on an educational trip to Malaysia as she explores the way Islamic values shape education and community.
Faryal is studying a bachelor of Islamic studies at the Charles Sturt Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation and is one of three Charles Sturt University students to receive a New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship.
The scholarship will help send Faryal overseas to spend an academic semester at the International Islamic University in Malaysia.
“As a student of Islamic Studies at Charles Sturt University, this opportunity allows me to take my learning beyond theory and into real, lived experience,” she said.
“I’m excited to learn in this environment and to engage with perspectives that will stretch how I think about education and community.”
Faryal believes that education is more than what you find in textbooks – it builds understanding, strengthens communities and creates connections across cultures.
“Studying at the International Islamic University Malaysia means being immersed in Malaysia’s diverse and vibrant society, where cultures, languages and traditions don’t just coexist but shape everyday life,” she said.
Faryal will also participate in Bahasa Malaysia language training to enable everyday communication and cultural engagement.
“My interest in Islamic studies comes from a desire to better understand how faith and ethics inform daily life, learning and character,” she said.
She also plans to complete an education-focused internship or mentorship in Kuala Lumpur to gain insight into teaching and learning in a regional area.
“I am particularly interested in how Islamic values shape education and community and how these principles can be applied thoughtfully in contemporary contexts, especially when working with young people.”
