The Government should set up an immediate inquiry into the future of Islamic Studies at the UK higher educational institutions to determine a new agenda for the study of Islam and Muslims in the UK.
That was the appeal made by Professor Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Dundee’s Al-Maktoum Institute speaking at their Graduation ceremony today (Friday Dec 1).
Professor El-Awaisi, one of the UK’s leading academics in this field of study, again repeated his claim that the promotion of multicultural education was the way to defeat fundamentalism, extremism and terrorism.
And he highlighted the findings of a two-year study, published by the Al-Maktoum Institute, earlier this year that criticised many of the courses on offer at other UK universities and colleges stating they were “failing to meet the needs of a 21st-century multicultural Britain.”
He said, “There is an urgent need for a complete re-examination of what is being taught about Islam and Muslims throughout the UK and a review of the relevance of the courses offered by these institutions. Some departments are not focusing on the needs of 21st-century life in multicultural Britain. This includes choosing local Imams and religious leaders as lecturers for ‘political correctness’. Too many courses on offer within the British higher education establishment lack relevance to the needs of contemporary multicultural British society on the one hand and at the same time Muslim institutions in the UK are following international political ideologies which are not even relevant to the needs of British Muslim communities.”
At their Graduation ceremony the Al-Maktoum Institute, established less than five years ago, celebrated passing the 50 mark for the number of graduates who have qualified with a Masters degree or a PhD. A total of 54 students have graduated and of the 14 students awarded in today’s ceremony, half had achieved Doctorates.
Professor El-Awaisi said, “I’m absolutely delighted that we are playing our part in educating the new generation of scholars who will go out into the world of work ready to challenge the old ways of thinking, teaching and learning. There’s a clear need for the study of Islam and Muslims to be developed across all levels of education in Britain and many of our graduates are ready to play their part.” To help with that process the Professor announced that Al-Maktoum Institute has established two Alumnus Networks.
One of these will be launched in the near future at a reception to be held in the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
This was the second year that the Institute’s Graduation ceremony had been held in conjunction with the University of Aberdeen who validates their degree courses.
At the ceremony it was also announced that the two bodies are developing three additional courses for taught Masters – Multiculturalism; Muslims, Globalisation and the West and Islamic Education.
The Institute is also looking at widening its student base by offering the delivery of its programmes through distance learning courses. These will be offered to potential students resident elsewhere in the UK unable to move to study in Dundee and to international students including those particularly based in the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf region.
Next year will also see Dundee playing host to a national symposium of academics to discuss the findings of the Report produced by Professor El-Awaisi and his colleague, Professor Malory Nye, “Time for Change: Report on the Future of the Study of Islam and Muslims in Universities and Colleges in Multicultural Britain.”
There will also be two international academic conferences, one to discuss Islamicjerusalem Studies and the other Multiculturalism.
Professor El-Awaisi concluded, “As we approach our fifth anniversary there is much we can look back on with pride. Yet while we celebrate our achievements we know there is still much to do to promote our vision of a multicultural Britain and to get our message across that from here in Dundee we are playing a major part in trying to bring peace to the world.”
