Professor Abdelhafid Benamraoui, Professor of Finance and Director of Employability for the School of Finance and Accounting at the University of Westminster, delivered an inaugural professorial lecture titled Conventional and Islamic Finance: Bridging the Gap for Common Good. The lecture provided insights into the key differences between conventional and Islamic finance and how bridging gaps between these financial systems can benefit society.
The lecture took place on 30 April in Fyvie Hall, located on the University’s Regent Campus. In the lecture, Professor Benamraoui explored the roles of both conventional and Islamic finance in the modern global economy. He highlighted their key differences and presented statistical and research-based evidence to show how Islamic finance contributes to social responsibility, economic growth and financial resilience. The lecture also addressed the key challenges facing the sector, including product innovation, risk management, asymmetric information and governances, and concluded with insights into the future of Islamic finance for both the UK and internationally.
With over 25 years of academic experience, Professor Benamraoui is a leading expert in finance, corporate governance and Islamic banking and finance. He completed a PhD in Finance in 2003, where he started his academic career as a Part-Time Lecturer and later moved to the European Business School as a Lecturer in Accounting and Finance. In 2006, he joined the University of Westminster as a Senior Lecturer in Finance and since 2010 has been a valued member of the Westminster Business School. Professor Benamraoui has also been a Visiting Lecturer and guest speaker at several institutions across the UK.
His research has been published in several high impact academic journals, including the Journal of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, the International Journal of Auditing, the Journal of Banking Regulation and the Journal of Environmental Management, and he has spoken at a range of parliamentary groups and international conferences.
Professor Benamraoui has served Westminster extensively as a member of the University Academic Council and Adviser for the PRESTige programme. He has also held a variety of leadership positions, including Director of Learning, Teaching and Quality Assurance and Course Leader for the University’s Finance BSc Honours course.
About the lecture Professor Benamraoui said: “The inaugural lecture gave me the opportunity to showcase some of the research contributions to knowledge I made towards my area of expertise, explain why the area is important and the main developments driving the study field. In addition, the lecture was a social event to celebrate my achievements with my colleagues and friends and has brought joy and self-satisfaction for achieving the Professional milestone after serving the University for more than 19 years and being an academic and active researcher for more than 25 years.”
This lecture directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education and 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about the Accounting and Finance courses at Westminster.
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