Brief History

The King Faisal Center for Islamic, Arabic and Asian Studies (KFCIAAS) was created as an academic unit of Mindanao State University to serve as a vehicle for promoting Arabic and Islamic Studies in the Muslim areas Southern Philippines. It was first established as an ancillary department of the then College of Liberal Arts in 1971 which was named as Institute of Asian Islamic (Arabic) Studies. In October 1973, by virtue of BOR Resolution No. 418, the institute was formally separated from the College of Liberal Arts as a separate college name Institute of Asian and Islamic (Arabic) Studies. The institute was mandated to offer a bachelors degree in Islamic (Arabic) Studies (AB-IAS). This separation was significant as it marked the existence of the Institute as the first government institute in the country which is mandated to offer Islamic (Arabic) studies.

In March 1974, the college was renamed as King Faisal Institute of Islamic (Arabic) Studies in recognition of the deep concerned of His Majesty the late King Faisal bin Abdel Azis of the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

On June 3, 1976, the Institute was elevated into a center by virtue of BOR Resolution No. 1064 and was renamed King Faisal Center of Islamic and Arabic Studies or more appropriately, King Faisal Center for Islamic, Arabic and Asian Studies.

Philosophy and Vision

As an academic unit of Mindanao State University, the King Faisal Center of Islamic, Arabic and Asian Studies is likewise committed to the philosophy of the total development of man, the molding of an insane alkaamil (real man) or a homo Islamicus (Islamic Man) who is able to balance his material progress with spiritual prosperity.

The Center therefore, not only seeks to propagate the idea of balanced development through integrated knowledge, but also aspires to serve as the soul and conscience of the University being a lead institution in pursuing academic excellence and moral uprightness so as to build real men through quality instructions, research and extension services.

Goals and Objectives

The KFCIAAS was created as an academic unit of Mindanao State University with the primary mission of promoting Arabic and Islamic Studies in the Muslim areas of Southern Philippines and of helping to achieve the goal of national integration and peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Christians in the region.

Specifically, the Center seeks to achieve the following:

Develops and offers academic programs relevant to the social, economic and cultural betterment of the Muslims and other cultural minorities; Undertakes research on Islamic culture in the Philippines and abroad in order to broaden understanding of Muslim culture and way of life; Do outreach community service and the form of functional literacy in order to take part in attacking literacy as a root-cause poverty in Muslims communities; and Encourage growing consciousness in Asia and the Middle East for regional cooperation.

Mindanao State University (MSU) was established on September 1, 1961 through RA 1387, as amended, was the brain child of the late Senator Domocao A. Alonto, as one of the governments responses to the so-called Mindanao Problem.

The original mission of the university was anchored on instruction, research and extension. The 1954 Congressional Committee conceptualized it as a social laboratory for national integration.

For the main campus in Marawi City starting with 282 students and 12 faculty members in its pioneering classes in 1962, it has grown to a multi-campus supra-regional university system, serving over 69,000 students in all levels with nearly 3,100 faculty members.

The locales of the University campuses are vibrant, which makes Mindanao State University System (MSUS) a distinctive university and special place for any students. It is also the only university directly charged by the government to advance the cause of national unity and actively pursue integration through education.

Today, MSU has various units in strategic areas which cut across the Mindanao regions. From a one campus university in Marawi City. MSU has grown to a multi-campus university of eight autonomous campuses, which include: MSU-Main in Marawi City, MSU-IIT in Iligan City, MSU-TCTO in Tawi-Tawi, MSU-Naawan in Misamis Oriental, MSU-Maguindanao, MSU-General Santos, MSU-Sulu in Jolo and MSU Buug in Zamboanga Sibugay.

In addition, three (3) former CHED- Supervised Institutions (CSIS) of higher learning are now considered integrated campuses into the MSU System, namely: Lanao National College of Arts and Trade (LNCAT), Lanao Norte Agricultural College (LNAC) and Maigo School of Arts and Trade (MSAT).

Charter Mandate of MSU

As enshrined in its Charter (RA 1387), MSU was established in Marawi City on September 1, 1961 to achieve the following objectives:

Educate the youth of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan (MINSUPALA) by offering degree programs in various fields of learning; Support businesses and industries in the region by providing their manpower requirements; and Integrate the Muslims and the other cultural minorities into the mainstream of national life. Nature and Features of MSU

MSU is an affirmative action policy instrument for the multiculturalist integration of the Muslims and other cultural minorities into the mainstream of national life; MSU is a policy instrument to capacitate the Muslims and other minority cultural communities to catch up with the more advanced regions in the country; MSU has a peace building mandate, with most of its campuses located in conflict- affected areas in Mindanao. MSU campuses are expected to compete with MILF, MNLF and ASG camps in attracting young Muslims. Moreover, being in key areas of conflict, some of MSU campuses (especially MSUMarawi) require adequate number of security personnel; and Most MSU campuses are residential universities entailing huge maintenance and operating expenses. Aside from their big number of academic and administrative buildings, many MSU campuses have student dormitories, faculty and staff cottages, and huge land areas.