We are pleased to announce that as of 1 June 2011 we have become the Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education. We believe that this new title will communicate even more clearly to the public that we are, first and foremost, an independent and international research-led college of higher education, working in the university sector to provide an excellent centre for teaching and research of the highest standard.
1. What motivated the name change?
We believe that this new title will communicate even more clearly to the public that we are, first and foremost, an independent and international research-led college of higher education, working in the university sector to provide an excellent centre for teaching and research of the highest standard in the Study of Islam and Muslims.
One important goal for us is to achieve the status as a University College, with the authority to validate courses and award degrees to future graduates. Becoming a University College will take time – most likely requiring another ten years of growth and expansion. Changing the name of our Institute to Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education will be a significant milestone in our efforts to achieve University College status.
2. What other changes will this name change bring?
Our name and logo, obviously, but nothing else.
Our commitment to quality education and our aim to educate the coming generations of scholars, both nationally and internationally, in the Study of Islam and Muslims shall always stay with this organisation. Because we believe in our mission to provide a much needed centre for teaching and research in the broad field of the study of Islam and Muslims which is based on intelligent debate and understanding.
We will continue to focus on the development of our students and graduates on contemporary global issues of multiculturalism, leadership, cultural engagement and global awareness. We will continue to be a place of analytic knowledge and critical reflection on the issues facing a diverse and multicultural world in the twenty-first century.
3. How is the name change going to affect the range of courses that will be provided, or the quality of your course programmes?
You can rest assured that we do not intend our name change to have any negative impact on the range of courses we provide or the quality of our courses. Our mission to provide high-calibre, quality education in the Study of Islam and Muslims has stayed strong with us since the founding days of this organisation. As an education provider, we will continue to focus our work on course and curriculum development, tailoring and expanding our course programmes so that they are not only relevant to our global world now, but will be strategically useful for the challenges facing us in the future.
Indeed we have introduced five new masters programmes, in Islamic Law, Islamic Ethics, Gender and Islam, Practical Ethics and Islam, and Development, Islam and the Muslim World. Further new programmes are planned for the near future, including Islamic Finance Law.
4. Will you still be in Dundee, Scotland?
Yes, absolutely, so students can continue to enjoy all the benefits that come with living in Dundee, including its multicultural diversity, friendliness, sunshine and affordable accommodation costs.
5. Will you make any changes to the tuition fees for the academic year 2011-2012?
No, absolutely not. All of our fees can be found on our website and prospectus. Tuition fees for the academic year 2012-2013 will be published in these channels in due course.
6. What about funding and scholarships? Will they still be available?
Yes. All of the published details about funding and scholarships on our website and prospectus for the academic year 2011-12 are up-to-date and will continue to apply throughout the academic year 2011-12.
7. How can I apply to the Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education?
Every aspect of the application process shall stay the same, as published on our website and prospectus for the year 2011-2012, including the application method, the process by which your application will be assessed, entrance requirements and application deadlines. We have recently introduced an online application form to make the process even easier.
8. Will the various English Language Courses still be available?
At the moment, unfortunately, the College will not be running any English Language Courses.
9. Will I be able to contact your staff members using their ‘almi.abdn.ac.uk’ email addresses?
For the time being, yes. However, our email addresses will eventually be updated to reflect our name change. We will do all that we can to keep you informed regarding such changes. To make sure your enquiries can be dealt with in the most efficient way possible, we would recommend that you do a quick search on our website regarding contact information before you send us any enquiries.
10. Will you make any changes to your website’s URL?
Not for the time being, no. However, our website’s URL will eventually be changed to reflect our new status as a college of higher education. When that change happens, please be assured that we will divert all traffic from the old URL to the new website.
