Conference on Islamic Civilization in Brunei Darussalam

23 Dec Conference on Islamic Civilization in Brunei Darussalam

The fourth international conference entitled “The Teaching of Islamic Civilization in Today’s Universities and Colleges: A Review for New Strategic Educational Goals” was held at the Center of Islamic Studies at University Brunei Darussalam from 3rd to 5th November 2014.
The aim of the conference as defined by the organizers is first of all to review the current teaching of Islamic civilization in learning institutions, especially in universities and colleges. Secondly, the aim was to initiate new methodological strategies to make the courses on Islamic civilization more appealing to students and other learners. Thirdly, with respect to the audience, particularly those of non-Islamic background, the participants of the conference were asked to contemplate on the issue of how to make Islamic civilization be better understood and appreciated due to its enormous contribution to humanity in general. Finally, the objective of the conference was to provide a new platform for scholars and lecturers of Islamic civilization aiming to further popularize the subject of Islamic civilization within universities and other learning institutions.
Among the institutions that participated in the organization of the conference was Oxford University, Sarajevo International University – Bosnia and Herzegovina and International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization – Malaysia. The conference has gathered about thirty or so scholars from all over the world who contributed with their presentations respectively to the event. Besides three keynote speakers, namely, Prof. Dr. Tariq Ramadan, Prof. Dr. Kamal Hasan and Prof. Dr. Osman Bakar, the active participation in the conference was also taken by the representative of DICID, namely, Senad Mrahorovic who is currently a researcher in DICID. He presented a paper during the second day of the conference titled “The Role of Qatari Educational Institutions in Teaching, Nurturing and Promoting Islamic Civilization”. Another participant from Qatar was Prof. Abdelkader al-Bakhoushe who attended the conference on behalf of Prof. Aisha al-Mannai, the Dean of Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies, who was initially invited as a keynote speaker but was not able to attend due to her other commitments.
The conference, we believe, was a very successful event in Brunei Darussalam, as it has succeeded in achieving its objectives within the program of University Brunei Darussalam, an institution that has already introduced certain subjects on Islamic civilization as compulsory courses for all of its students. The abovementioned objectives of the conference and the proposed ideas and plans by the scholars and experts on Islamic civilization who participated at the event will certainly be further studied and analyzed in order to begin with the actualization of the conference goals in other parts of the world as well.
For more information please visit: http://soascis.ubd.edu.bn

The Role of Qatari Educational Institutions in Teaching, Nurturing and Promoting Islamic Civilization
Abstract:
The State of Qatar in recent years has taken several important steps to strengthen and improve its educational system from primary to higher learning levels. With the reorganization of the Ministry of Education and its transformation into the Supreme Council of Education that regulates all aspects of education, Qatar has embarked on the way to successfully meet its vision, mission and aims regarding the educational development. Besides the visible improvement and development of local learning centers such as Qatar University, Qatar Foundation, Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID) and dozens of other institutions not to mention primary and secondary schools, Qatar has also opened its door for a number of international universities and organizations. However, being an Islamic state, the special attention has been directed towards Islamic education which alongside a unique governmental policy in various ways promotes Islamic civilization. In this paper, I will present a model practiced by Qatari educational institutions in teaching, cultivating and promoting important aspects of Islamic civilization such as Islamic philosophy and mysticism, Art and Architecture and Islamic science. I will examine a few of higher learning centers and their programs concerning the study of Islamic Civilization.