The City of Dundee and the people of Scotland have every right to be proud of the achievements of Al-Maktoum Institute in promoting multicultural education as the only way to defeat extremism and fundamentalism.
This was said today/yesterday (Wednesday, May 9) by the Institute’s Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi at the launch of his book titled “Setting the New Agenda,” an event that forms part of the Institute’s 5th Anniversary celebrations.
The Institute has been pursuing a new agenda for the study of Islam and Muslims and a similar centre of excellence, following a call from the Professor at a recent conference in Abu Dhabi, is set to be established in the Muslim world. “In each successful step, I have felt very strongly that we are making a positive change and making history. We can be proud for setting the new agenda for cultural engagement in Scotland through Al-Maktoum Institute in Dundee at both academic and cultural levels,” said Professor El-Awaisi.
“One of my central aims has been to promote a greater understanding of different religions and cultures in a multicultural context, for the benefit of the wider community. I have also tried to build bridges, as my book states, between the Muslim and Western worlds of learning at this crucial time and over the last five years I have worked tirelessly to develop this new agenda through cultural engagements and the promotion of multiculturalism. I have successfully established a leading distinctive national and international centre of academic excellence for developing teaching and research in the study of Islam and Muslims of the highest standard. In my book, I say that I feel proud that the Institute is playing a key role in setting the new agenda in cultural engagement and shaping and developing teaching and research in the Study of Islam and Muslims at university level in the UK and internationally. We are now a unique seat of learning and a research-led institution of higher education, which offers postgraduate programmes of study validated by the University of Aberdeen. Through the Institute, I have also been actively involved in educating the next generation of scholars both nationally and internationally to enable them to face the challenges and opportunities of a diverse and multicultural world.”
The book covers seven years, starting in 2000 when he actually arrived in Dundee alone with the support of his patron, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum to set up the Institute and set out the journey of the Institute to date. In it, the Professor highlights several key points including:
- 54 postgraduate graduates from countries including Malaysia, the UAE, Palestine, Israel, Syria, Poland and Scotland
- A new innovative agenda for the Study of Islam and Muslims
- Major research publications, in particular, a major report: Time for Change
- Building progressive links between the UAE and Scotland
- A sister city agreement between Dundee and Dubai
- Direct daily flights between Dubai and Glasgow with Emirates Airlines
- The creation of the Al-Maktoum Awards for Multicultural Scotland supported by the Scottish Executive’s ‘One Scotland Many Cultures’ Campaign
- Increased educational links including four summer schools bringing female students from the Emirates and Qatar to Scotland
- Three Scottish delegation visits to Dubai to establish business and economic links
- The rediscovery and re-launch of the Al-Maktoum tartan last year.
From September this year, it will be offering five unique and innovative MLitt (taught masters) programmes in Islamic Studies; Islamicjerusalem Studies; Multiculturalism; Muslims, Globalisation and the West; Islamic Education. “The Institute has made a remarkable start and I am convinced it will continue to make a positive impact here and in the Muslim world in the years ahead,” the Professor said.
