The 50 female students from the UAE and Qatar on the Al-Maktoum Institute’s 2011 Academic Training Programme (ATP) in Multiculturalism and Leadership arrived in Oxford today (Monday, February 7.)
They will spend two days at Ripon College Cuddesdon as guests of its Principal, Professor Martyn Percy – the first time an ATP or Institute Summer School programme has involved travelling to England.
During their stay in Oxford, the group will have talks and lectures on subjects that include the History of Christianity and Muslim-Christian dialogue.
The visit is a spin-off from the Institute signing a unique educational agreement with Ripon College Cuddesdon last year.
This is a formal collaborative link that recognised that priests, who will be working in a multicultural Britain, need to have a firm understanding of the Islamic and Muslim communities in Britain and the wider world.
Founded in 1854, it is a theological college in the Church of England (Episcopalian Church) – currently with over 130 residential and non-residential students training for ordination, over forty pursuing other courses, and twelve academic staff – that seeks to model the working together of ordained and lay ministry that is deemed to be vital for the health of the church of the future.
The agreement also provides for the Institute to send a scholar of Islamic studies from the Institute each year to spend a semester at Ripon College Cuddesdon as a Visiting Fellow.
As a result, Dr Alhagi Manta Drammeh, Lecturer and co-ordinator MLitt programme in Islamic Studies, is now in Oxford for a term to deliver a course on Islam and engage in the life and community of the college and the University of Oxford.
From Oxford, the students will head for London to visit the House of Lords where they will hear a talk by Lord Harries of Pentegrath, a former Bishop of Oxford.
And to round off this part of the programme they will visit Harrods, one of the world’s most famous stores.
“Delivering part of the ATP out of Scotland marks an exciting development for us,” said Institute Principal, Professor Malory Nye.
“It broadens the scope of the ATP and will give the students, hopefully, an insight of what it’s like to study in Oxford, one of the pre-eminent centres of learning anywhere in the world.
“I am sure the students will find it interesting and invigorating.
“Professor Percy and his staff have worked hard to make the visit possible, so we are extremely grateful to them.”
