ALUMNI CEMERLANG KUIM KATEGORI CEMERLANG STAF AKADEMIK
DR. MOHD AZAM BIN YAHYA mendapat pendidikan awal di SK Tanjung Bidara, Melaka, kemudian meneruskan pengajian peringkat menengah di SMU (Arab) Maahad Muhammadi (L), Kota Baharu, Kelantan. Menuruti hasrat seorang ayah yang mengimpikan anaknya mendapat pengajian di Universiti Al-Azhar, Kaherah, Mesir, beliau telah menyambung pelajaran di Universiti Al-Azhar dan bergraduat dalam bidang Syariah pada tahun 2000. Kemudian, beliau meneruskan pengajian peringkat Sarjana Syariah di Universiti Malaya pada 2010 dan tamat pengajian peringkat Doktor Falsafah Syariah dari Kolej Universiti Islam Melaka (KUIM) (kini dikenali sebagai Universiti Islam Melaka – UNIMEL) pada tahun 2019 dengan menerima Anugerah Munsyi Abdullah (Tamat Pengajian GOT).
Kredibiti dan personaliti positif beliau sepanjang hampir 20 tahun berkhidmat di UNIMEL sebagai pensyarah telah melahirkan ramai graduan cemerlang dalam bidang pengajian masing-masing. Ini juga telah meletakkan beliau antara pensyarah yang sangat dihormati dan disegani oleh pelajar-pelajarnya. Malah sepanjang perkhidmatan, beliau pernah menjawat jawatan sebagai Ketua Kampus Chenderah yang dulunya terletak di Jasin, Melaka, Dekan Kuliyyah al-Dirasat al-Islamiyyah wal Arabiyyah, Dekan Akademi Pengajian Islam yang kini dikenali sebagai Fakulti Keilmuan Islam, Dekan Pusat Asasi dan Pengajian Umum dan kini memegang jawatan sebagai Dekan Institut Pengajian Siswazah.
Bukan itu sahaja, sikap amanah Dr. Azam ini menjadi kepercayaan pentadbir-pentadbir institusi bertauliah untuk memberi amanah kepada beliau memegang jawatan sebagai Pengarah Wakaf UNIMEL, menguruskan Program Kerjasama Akademik dengan beberapa universiti di timur tengah iaitu di Mesir, Jordan dan Maghribi, menguruskan program pengajian kerjasama akademik dengan Yayasan Sabah dan Singapura, jawatankuasa masjid dan surau di sekitar tempat tinggal, Guru Takmir serta penceramah bebas negeri Melaka. Beliau juga merupakan Penasihat dan Ahli Lembaga Pengarah dalam sebuah agensi Umrah, Haji dan Pelancongan, di samping sangat aktif sebagai mutawif dalam agensi umrah. Keupayaan beliau dalam mentadbir dan mengurus sehingga pernah dinobatkan Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang Pentadbir Akademik.
Kebanyakan kenalan bertanya kenapa memilih UNIMEL sebagai pelengkap ilmu Doktor Falsafah? Jawapan beliau mudah. UNIMEL mempunyai tenaga akademik yang berkelayakan dan bermutu tinggi sama ada pada peringkat dalaman mahupun pensyarah jemputan atau pelawat. Selain itu, UNIMEL juga mempunyai tenaga akademik yang bermutu tinggi, suasana pembelajaran yang kondusif, modul pengajian yang mengikuti arus semasa,dan juga penyelia yang komited dalam memberi tunjuk ajar pada seliaan tesis pelajar. Program-program keagamaan di UNIMEL juga bertepatan dengan ahli sunnah wal jemaah. Menurut beliau lagi, UNIMEL merupakan sebuah institusi pengajian tinggi yang mengikuti modul pengajian ukhrawi dan duniawi. Graduan yang terhasil daripada UNIMEL, tidak hanya menumpukan pada ilmu duniawi sahaja bahkan mempunyai akhlak dan jiwa muslim yang baik.
DISTINGUISHED KUIM ALUMNUS – ACADEMIC STAFF CATEGORY
Dr. Mohd Azam bin Yahya received his early education at SK Tanjung Bidara, Melaka, before continuing his secondary studies at SMU (Arab) Maahad Muhammadi (L), Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Fulfilling his father’s aspiration for him to pursue studies at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, he furthered his education at Al-Azhar University and graduated in the field of Shariah in 2000.
He later continued his studies at the Master’s level in Shariah at the University of Malaya, completing it in 2010. Subsequently, he obtained his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Syariah from Kolej Universiti Islam Melaka (KUIM), now known as Universiti Islam Melaka (UNIMEL), in 2019, where he was honoured with the Munsyi Abdullah Award (Graduate on Time – GOT).
His credibility and positive character, demonstrated throughout nearly 20 years of service at UNIMEL as a lecturer, have produced many outstanding graduates in their respective fields. This has also established him as a highly respected and admired lecturer among his students.
Throughout his career, he has held several key leadership positions, including Head of Chenderah Campus (formerly located in Jasin, Melaka), Dean of Kuliyyah al-Dirasat al-Islamiyyah wal Arabiyyah, Dean of the Academy of Islamic Studies (now known as the Faculty of Islamic Studies), Dean of the Centre for Foundation and General Studies, and currently serves as the Dean of the Institute of Postgraduate Studies.
In addition, Dr. Azam’s integrity and trustworthiness have earned him the confidence of institutional administrators, leading to his appointment as Director of Waqf at UNIMEL. He has also managed academic collaboration programmes with several universities in the Middle East, including institutions in Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco. Furthermore, he has overseen academic collaboration programmes with Yayasan Sabah and institutions in Singapore.
Beyond academia, he is actively involved in community and religious engagements, including serving on mosque and surau committees in his local area, acting as a Guru Takmir, and delivering public religious lectures in the state of Melaka. He is also an Advisor and Board Member of an Umrah, Hajj, and travel agency, while actively serving as a mutawif (pilgrimage guide). His administrative and management excellence has been recognised through the Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (Excellent Service Award) for Academic Administrators.
Many acquaintances have asked why he chose UNIMEL to complete his PhD. His answer is simple: UNIMEL has qualified and high-quality academic staff, both internally and among visiting or guest lecturers. In addition, the university offers a conducive learning environment, up-to-date academic modules, and committed supervisors who provide strong guidance in thesis supervision.
Religious programmes at UNIMEL are also aligned with the teachings of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘ah. According to him, UNIMEL is a higher education institution that integrates both worldly and spiritual (ukhrawi) knowledge. Graduates produced by UNIMEL are not only equipped with worldly knowledge but also possess strong moral character and a sound Muslim identity.
