|
ESSENTIALS for EXCELLENCE
How did the MTP originate?
In October 2005, the World Federation facilitated a weekend retreat in
London, UK to seek input and direction from Muballigheen and Ulema to
formulate an action plan to enhance and sustain Islamic guidance to our
communities across the world. Over 52 prominent Aalims from within our
global community participated in this crucial and effective forum to
discuss the future vision of Tableegh in our Jamaats. After extensive
consultations with worldwide community leaders, elders, members,
resident Aalims, Muballigheen, Islamic scholars, and having visited
Howzas in the UK, India, Iran, Pakistan and Syria, the World Federation
launched the MTP.
What is the purpose of this course?
The four year
postgraduate course under the Muballigheen Training Programme is
designed to train Aalims with the necessary competencies to be able to
serve the 120 Jamaats that are members of the World Federation and
Regional Federations.
What is the selection criterion for this course?
Each
Jamaat has to recommend at least one Muballigh Trainee from within its
membership. The Trainees must be University Graduates, and preference
should be given to those who are:
- Under 30 Years of Age
- Married
- With proven youth interaction
Can I still apply if I am not a Khoja?
Yes, so long as you are a member of a Jamaat that is a member of the World Federation or Regional Federation.
I do not have a degree, can I still apply?
No.
This is a postgraduate course for University degree holders or those
who are expecting to obtain their degree during the year.
I am visiting Syria soon, can I visit the Institute?
You
are more than welcome to visit the Institute in Syria. Prior to your
visit please email the World Federation Office in Damascus at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
How is the Institute for Postgraduate Studies different to the Traditional Howzas in Qum, Najaf and Syria?
The
Traditional Howzas in Najaf, Qum and Damascus have their own structure
and entrance criteria. Students take their own time without any
limitation and they get the benefits according to their personal
abilities and qualities. The Islamic Institute for Postgraduate Studies
caters for specific objectives within a set time frame.
How much will I have to pay for this course?
The
cost of the four year course is US$50,000 which can be paid by the
student, or his Jamaat, or his Regional Federation or by scholarship
offered by members of the community. The scholarship covers tuition,
accommodation, food, travel, medical and pocket expenses.
When should I apply?
Applications have to be submitted to the Jamaat office bearers for recommendation by the 1st of June.
Will I be required to come to London if I am selected for an interview?
Ideally,
we would like applicants to be able to attend an interview in London
for this programme. However, if you are unable to do so, other
arrangements can be made depending on your personal situation.
What happens after I finish the 4 year course?
Ideally
you would be expected to return to your Jamaat and serve as a Resident
Religious Scholar for a minimum period of three years.
Can I go for a shorter period than the four years?
No.
This is a four year programme designed specifically to meet the needs
of our community, and unfortunately we are currently not running any
courses for a period shorter than this time.
What is Syria like and where will I live?
Syria
is an amazing country and it has a completely different culture to the
West and many other Eastern countries. Until our campus is completed
each couple is allocated a furnished apartment very close to the
Institute and only a five minute walk from the Shrine of Seyyida Zainab
(AS)
What is the approach to teaching and learning at the Institute?
Approaches to teaching and learning will be based on the principles that students should be undertaking assignments which:
- Enable them to draw on work undertaken in the community
- Involve the integration of theory and practice
- Enable
them to demonstrate knowledge and understanding from indicative reading
(Including books, research, journals and electronic sources)
- Place an emphasis on skills of synthesis and analysis
- Require critical reflection and the development of a reasoned position
- Require the identification of strategies for promoting effective practice
- Are relevant in terms of their potential for improving practice and furthering professional development
- Involve
the orchestration of a range of skills to present in a manner which
conveys information clearly and succinctly, and in ways which would be
appropriate for Mosque / Imambargha lecturers in the course of their
professional work
What kind of student support services does the Institution offer?
Library: The library
will house a principal collection of resources together with a number
of special collections. Agreements are in place for resource pooling
with two local libraries and resource centres.
IT Services: In the
new campus, the Information Technology (IT) services will provide a
wide range of services including open access computer rooms, some of
which will be available 24 hours, 7 days a week. All the accommodation
apartments will have wifi connection linked to the Institute’s campus
network. In England, there is an extensive library and a networked
media centre, to which students will have access.
Tutors: It is the
Institute’s policy to have in place a system of academic and personal
tutors for its students. Additionally in England, a University-wide
statement on such provision is included in the University’s TQA Manual.
Career Advisors: The
English University Careers Advisory service provides professional
advice to all students enabling them to plan their futures, through
guidance interviews, psychometric testing, employer presentations,
skills events, practice job interviews and CV preparation. This
facility will be available to the Institute students.
Student/Staff Liaison Committee:
The Institute is required to possess Student / Staff Liaison
Committees, allowing students to contribute directly to the enhancement
of educational and other provision at the discipline level.
Additionally: The following services in England, accessible to the Institute students, will provide a wide range of student support services:
- Student Counselling & Study Skills Service
- Student Health & Advice Centre
- Family, Disability Resource & English and Foreign Language Centre
What are the Key Objectives of the 4 year programme?
(1) Lecturing at Islamic Centres:
- To develop confidence in leading of all forms of
congregational prayers, lecturing and conducting seminars in the
language of the community and country.
- To develop confidence in the performance of all Practical Religious Services.
- To provide an in depth study for the management of day to day community questions in matters of jurisprudence.
- To
develop the competences necessary for undertaking guidance of community
institutions like children’s Madressah, schools, youth camps, seminars
etc.
- To develop the competences necessary for relating to all age and gender groups within a community.
- To
provide the intellectual capability for the non-confrontational defense
of Islam and for the favourable presentation of Islam as per the
teachings of the followers of the Members of the Household of the
Prophet.
(2) Resources:
- To provide an in depth study of the Qur’an and its exegesis,
sciences of Traditions, Jurisprudence, Principles of Jurisprudence,
Logic, History, Islamic Theology, Philosophy and Ethics.
- To
provide a broad overview of key areas of Islamic thought in their
actual social and historical contexts, including an acquaintance with
the major texts and seminal thinkers in each selected tradition.
- To provide training in the methods of critical reading appropriate to some of the major Islamic intellectual traditions.
- To
develop an accurate appreciation of the diversity and heterogeneity of
Muslim cultures and societies in various geographical, social, cultural
and political contexts, both contemporary and in past history.
- To
develop an appreciation of the changing and diverse roles of religious
beliefs and practices in relation to social change, diversity, and
conflict.
- To develop an awareness of the diversity of
Islamic practice, ritual, thought and belief in its full range of
contemporary contexts, from Southeast Asia and Africa to Europe and the
Americas.
- To develop an appreciation of the diverse,
shifting and creative local roles of the local Islamic humanities in
every area of social, cultural and ritual life.
- To develop
students’ sensitivity to the many roles (and local diversity) of
cultural stereotypes about Islam and Muslims, and their ability to move
beyond stereotypes in their own research, teaching and other forms of
communication.
- To acquaint students with the often radical
differences between actual lived religious life and the locally
operative cultural and media stereotypes, models, and ideals, including
political ideologies employing local religious symbols.
- To
help students develop their own interpretive and expository skills,
through oral presentation and guided discussion of their research and
reading.
At the end of the 4 year programme, what subject knowledge and skills will I have achieved?
- A thorough familiarity with key figures and foundational texts in the traditions of the Ja’fari Islamic school of thought.
- A
broad familiarity with the relevant range of theoretical and
methodological approaches to the study of Islam, and of religion more
generally, both within the social sciences (anthropology) and the field
of the study of religion.
- An ability to contextualise and
explain localised contemporary dimensions of Islamic religious life in
terms of their complex historical relations to earlier cultural
traditions and historical situations.
- An informed awareness
of and sensitivity to the full range of dimensions of religious life,
in both learned and popular contexts.
- An accurate
appreciation of the contrasts between the actual phenomena of religious
and spiritual life, on the one hand, and the locally operative cultural
norms or ideals shared by locally dominant elites or social groups.
- An
awareness of the operative diversities of Muslim religious lives and
cultures in a wide range of geographical, cultural, social and
historical settings, both in the contemporary world and in earlier
historical settings.
- An ability to articulate, accurately
express and communicate all of the above elements to different
audiences, including both Muslims and non-Muslims at different
educational levels.
- An informed awareness of the ongoing
role of cultural creativity, adaptation and change in the development
of lasting forms of Islamic life in a wide range of historical settings.
- A
familiarity with leading exponents and practitioners of the relevant
interpretive disciplines applicable to each student’s specialised area
of MA research and training.
At the end of the 4 year programme, what core academic skills will I have achieved?
- Ability to conduct all elements of independent research in related academic fields.
- Ability
to identify and assess critically core interpretive approaches and
methodological assumptions in discussions of all areas of relevant
social and cultural phenomena.
- Ability to recognise and
appropriately assess the particular relevance and appropriateness of
the full range of possible methodological and interpretive approaches
to the study of Islam (and religion more generally) within any given
cultural or historical setting.
- Ability to work accurately and independently in the reading and interpretation of the primary sources in Islamic Studies.
- Ability
to enter imaginatively into and to raise appropriate questions about
all the relevant dimensions of religious life in unfamiliar historical
and contemporary situations.
- Ability to recognise and to
critique the full range of common cultural and ideological
misconceptions and misrepresentations regarding religious and spiritual
life, especially as those operate and arise in unfamiliar historical
and cultural situations.
- Ability to give an articulate,
informed and effectively communicated oral account and interpretation
of religious phenomena familiar to the student.
At the end of the 4 year programme, what personal and key skills will I have achieved?
- Independent study and group work, including participation in discussion and effective communication when working in a group.
- Appropriate formulation of research problems and hypotheses.
- Taking responsibility for own learning by planning and managing tasks with limited guidance and by making use of feedback.
- Ability
to organise and process previously unfamiliar data to produce a cogent
and effective argument, both orally and in writing, for audiences of
different levels.
- Sharpening of critical faculties and enhancement of ability to arrive at a more balanced and objective judgement.
- Development of skills of cultural and intercultural sensitivity, as well as culturally appropriate communication.
- Further enhancing the ability to organise time and to effectively prioritise tasks.
- Use
of electronic information, bibliographic and communication tools,
including obtaining, archiving, and analysing relevant data.
|
