The University of Winchester has announced the start of a new Masters degree, MA in Islamic Education. The degree aims to improve community leadership and cohesion by training Muslim religious leaders in ways of communicating effectively within western societies and ways of helping their communities retain their Muslim identity whilst taking on a national identity within their host community.
The programme is the result of a partnership between the World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities, Hampshire Local Authority and the University. The programme is validated by the University in the Faculty of Education and is taught in Damascus, Syria, via distance learning and intensive face-to-face interaction.
Community cohesion is a Government priority and duty has been placed on
local authorities and educational institutions to promote it. “The
introduction of an MA in Islamic Education will make a major
contribution to community cohesion because it addresses the need that
has been identified to ensure that the leadership of Muslim communities
is appropriate to the concerns of those communities in playing a full
part in those societies in which they now reside.” comments Clive
Erricker, Hampshire County Inspector for Religious Education.
University of Winchester and World Federation Validation Teams.
Professor Joy Carter, Vice Chancellor of the University of Winchester
commented: “I’m delighted with this new degree because it links so
closely with our institutional values, one of which is Spirituality.
I’m confident that this programme will have a valuable impact on the
participating communities so I’m glad the University could be involved
and help make it a reality.”
The World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities has
existed for over 30 years. The World Federation is an NGO in Special
Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of
the United Nations. It is a faith-based organisation, which has around
125,000 community members worldwide, mainly in Canada, East Africa,
India, the Middle East, Pakistan, the UK and the USA.
Dr Ahmed Hassam, President of The World Federation, stated: "The
success of this validation is a historic moment in the history of the
community. With this success, the IIPS course has achieved a major
milestone in the realisation of the vision as defined by the community.
At this defining juncture our students will not only have access to the
best educational resources, but will also have the opportunity in
achieving an internationally recognised Masters level degree in Islamic
Education. I thank Allah (swt) for bestowing upon us this bounty and
for giving us the continued strength to maintain focus and resolution
in this endeavour."
Professor Tim Prentki, chairperson of the validation committee, stated:
"Through this validation event I was able to learn more about the
course. I see this is a unique programme in the UK higher education
context from the point of view of both the course content and its
structures of delivery.
The University of Winchester is looking forward to a long association
with IIPS in order to promote this programme which promises to make a
significant impact upon the development of the teaching of Islam in a
variety of different communities."
Dr Mahmood Abdulla, Executive Dean of the Islamic Institute for
Postgraduate Studies, said: "The validation of the Muballigheen
Training Programme by Winchester University is a ground-breaking
achievement for which the credit goes primarily to the WF Conference,
which deliberated on the programme and approved it. This was brought to
fruition through the tireless effort put in by the WF Office Bearers
and the MTP Coordinator who worked hard, away from the public
limelight. The message I would like to give to students on this
occasion is that there is no alternative to high quality which will be
maintained throughout the programme and failure is not an option at
all. The community deserves to be congratulated on this occasion for
the sincere support it has given to this project."
Dr Hasnain Walji, the former President of the World Federation stated:
Alhamdulillah, this is yet another milestone for the World Federation.
A vision realized after a lot of toil and time sacrifices by the entire
team. This was not just a critical factor for the MTP Project but a
valuable example demonstrating how our efforts in the field of tabligh
can (and should ) keep abreast of the times we live in and how we can
engage positively with the wider society while practicing our faith.
Congratulations are absolutely in order to the entire team for their
devotion, commitment and professionalism in handling this so
successfully.
AlHajj Hassan Ali M. Jaffer from Mombasa commented: It has been a long
and arduous journey. Despite the numerous pitfalls in the way and the
uphill journey that you had to undertake with devotion and
perseverance, one can now look back to all the efforts made over a
period of time with great relief - as a test of life. What greater
relief could there be for one than to ultimately reach a given
destination and having acquired an objective to yet consider it as a
staging post for further ascent to the higher peaks! There is no
respite in life. 'Ood bun bun ke jala hai dile soza.n mera' - in that
spirit you have devoted yourself to this noble task. Please accept my
heartiest congratulations for the successful outcome of this exercise
and for all your endeavours. Please also convey my heartiest
congratulations and best wishes and prayers to all members of the team
and the volunteers for their backing, support and input.
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