The Al-Maktoum Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies in Dundee has conferred an Honorary Fellowship on a former principal teacher at one of the city’s schools.
David Bone, Principal Teacher of Religious and Moral Education at Morgan Academy for seventeen years before retiring in 2005, received an Honorary Fellowship from Principal of the Institute, Professor Malory Nye during the Graduation Day ceremony on Thursday, February 19, 2009. Since its inception, he has been an enthusiastic supporter of the vision, ethos and activities of the Al-Maktoum Institute and in November last year, he became a member of the Institute Council.
“I am very pleased to be honoured in this way,” said Mr Bone, who was born in Glasgow and brought up in Malawi.
“I have always been keen to see the Institute develop and flourish so being appointed to its Council and now to receive an Honorary Fellowship is hugely appreciated.”
After gaining degrees in Social Science at Edinburgh University and Divinity at Glasgow University, he trained as a teacher in Religious Education and Modern Studies.
He taught in Glasgow until 1977 when he was appointed as lecturer in the Faculty of Education and the Department of Religious Studies at Chancellor College of the University of Malawi.
His research and publication interest was in the development of the Muslim communities in Malawi and their relationship with the wider society. He served for four years as Head of Department and four years on the University Senate.
On his return to Scotland he joined the teaching staff at Morgan Academy. In both Scotland and Malawi he has contributed to developing the curriculum of Religious and Moral Education at national level.
He has been a member of the first Scottish Central Committee on Religious Education and chaired the Syllabus Committee for his subject on the Malawi Certificate of Education Board.
Since his retiral from teaching he has been active in supporting his wife, Isobel’s business and in the Scotland-Malawi Partnership where he has been a Director of the Partnership and chaired its Education Committee.
He was also appointed as the first Scottish Fellow of the Partnership’s academic exchange scheme involving universities in both countries and now is its Project Liaison Officer.
Professor Nye said: “We are delighted to confer the Honorary Fellowship on David Bone, whose support for the work of Institute and his interest in our vision for multiculturalism have been unstinting. He is a very welcome addition to our Honorary Fellowship roll and his presence on our Council will be invaluable.”
