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Islamic Studies as a strategic subject in the UK. Presented at Languages of the Wider World Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and by John Canning, Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies, 11 February 2009 Some aspects of this presentation are based on: - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Islamic Studies as a strategic subject in the UK
Presented at Languages of the Wider World Centre for Excellence in Teaching and
Learning and by John Canning, Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies, 11
February 2009
Some aspects of this presentation are based on:
Bernasek, L. and Canning, J. Influences on the teaching of Arabic in UK higher education. Languages in higher education conference: Transitions and connections. York University,
July 2008. Bernasek, L. and Canning, J. (under review) Influences on the Teaching of Arabic and
Islamic Studies in UK Higher Education: Connections and disconnections
Student Numbers
Middle East Studies: enrolment up 19% (2002-03 to 2005-06) 955 students
Islamic Studies: enrolment up 12%
(2002-03 to 2005-06) 42
GCSE Arabic: up 42.3% (2003 to 2007)
2419 (2006)
A-level Arabic: up 84.5% (2003 to 2007) 476 students
GCSE Religious Studies 417,000 +
Study of Islam and Muslims
Middle East Studies
Sociology
Religious Studies
Law
Business and finance
Recent debates surrounding Middle Eastern, Arabic and Islamic Studies: Reports and conferences
– BRISMES, ‘The Crisis facing Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies in British Universities’ (October 2003).
– El-Awaisi, Abd al-Fattah and Malory Nye. Time for Change – Report on the Future of the Study of Islam and Muslims in Universities and Colleges in Multicultural Britain. Dundee: Al-Maktoum Press, 2006.
– Siddiqui, Ataullah. ‘Islam at Universities in England: Meeting the Needs and Investing in the Future’. Report to Bill Rammell MP, 2007.
– Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies and Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies. ‘International Approaches to Islamic Studies in Higher Education’. Report to HEFCE, 2008.
– ‘Islam in Higher Education’ conference (PRS and Association of Muslim Social Scientists, 2005)
– ‘The State of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Western Universities’ conference (SOAS, 2006)
– ‘Islam on Campus’ conference (University of Edinburgh, 2006)
– ‘Arabic on Campus’ conference (University of Edinburgh, 2008)
Student Numbers
Middle East Studies: enrolment up 19% (2002-03 to 2005-06) 955 students
Islamic Studies: enrolment up 12%
(2002-03 to 2005-06) 42
GCSE Arabic: up 42.3% (2003 to 2007)
2419 (2006)
A-level Arabic: up 84.5% (2003 to 2007) 476 students
GCSE Religious Studies 417,000 +
Islamic Studies in historical context
• 1312 establishment of chair in Arabic and other languages at European universities.
• Revival at time of Reformation• 17th C beginning of collections of Arabic texts• Colonial period- Oriental Studies• ‘Strategic’ subject Reay (1914), Scarborough
(1947) Hayter (1961) Parker (1986).• Contemporary strategy
Scope of Islamic Studies
• Narrow verses broad• ‘Middle Eastification’ of Islamic Studies• Textual, sociological, religious studies,
relationships with race and ethnicity• Disciplines: MES, Religious Studies,
sociology, politics, business• Approaches: colonialism, post-colonialism• Area Studies: the general verses
uniqueness
Disconnections
• Geographical
• Student backgrounds and motivations
• Type of Arabic/ other languages
• Links between Arabic and Islamic Studies
Ethnic origin of Muslims in UK
• Pakistani 43%• Bangladeshi 16% • Indian 8%• Other Asian 6%• White British 4%• Other white (including Arab, E. European,
Cypriot, Turkish) 7%• Black African 6%
Student motivations
• Social/cultural reasons
• Reading the Qur’an and Islamic texts
• Spiritual benefits
• Family or heritage connections
• Career motivations (military, politics, business)
Disciplinary
• Text-based approaches
• Muslim cultures and societies
• Neglect of sociological/ anthropology approaches
• Interest in Islamic law/ finance in Europe
• Language study. Which language? If Arabic which Arabic? Persian? Urdu? Limitations of 3-4 year degree
Study of Islam and Muslims
Middle East Studies
Sociology
Religious Studies
Law
Business and finance
Network timetable
• Phase 1 (from January 2009)• Consultation exercise • Set up of Advisory Group• Data collection on teaching about Islam• Phase 2 starts September 2009
More details at http://www.hefce.ac.uk/AboutUs/sis/islamic/network/
