Contemporary Islamic
Studies at University of
Aberdeen?
Dr Gabriele Marranci
Religious Studies
Dr Ataullah Siddiqui’s Report



On 10th April 2007, Dr Siddiqui submitted to Bill
Rammell MP, (Minister of State for Lifelong Learning,
Further and Higher Education) a report titled Islam at
University in England: Meeting the Needs and Investigating the
future.
The report provided some material for discussion of
what ‘Islamic studies’ may be today, post 9/11.
The report shows the deep crisis of traditional Islamic
Studies in the UK.
England




In England we can trace at least 19 institutions (including
Universities, Institutes, and Centres) offering at undergraduate
and postgraduate level programs on Islamic Studies (see
Appendix H).
Some Universities have departments focusing on Middle East
Studies, such as Cambridge, Durham University, The University
of Leeds, The University of Manchester, The University of
Nottingham, SOAS, The University of Oxford.
Some universities have two departments focusing on Islamic
related topics: one that is more political and based in Politics and
IR or middle east studies, and another in Divinity and Religious
Studies.
The majority of the English universities teach Islamic Studies
within departments of Divinity and Religious Studies.
England




The most comprehensive university offering courses
and research in the field of Islamic studies is SOAS, in
London.
Islamic studies in England is very variegate, and with
few exceptions, focused on traditional 1960s Middle
East Studies or, in the case of Divinity and Religious
Studies, Islamic history and theology (fiqh, shari’a,
Qur’anic studies).
Recently (in particular in the aftermath of 9/11), some
new courses on ‘Islam in Britain’ or ‘Muslims in Britain’
have been developed (a majority at the level of MA).
For instance: University of Birmingham, SOAS.
Scotland


Despite the historical connections as well as the actual
economical links that Scotland had, and has, with the
Muslim world, the study of Islam and Muslims is very
much less developed.
University of Edinburgh:
Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies
Edinburgh Institute for the Study of the Arab World
and Islam.
 The university has other courses concerning Islam in
different departments (such as history of Art and RS).


University of Glasgow:


Theology and Religious Studies
Centre for the Study of Islam (3 members of staff )
Scotland

University of St Andrews
Institute for Iranian Studies (only PG)
 Institute of Middle East, Central Asia and Caucasus
Studies (MECACS) (only PG)
 Few courses on Islam available (UG and
supervision) in anthropology, history and politics.


University of Stirling

School of Languages, Cultures and Religions

1 course (10 credits) ‘Islam as a Way of Life’
University of Aberdeen




There is great potential for The University of Aberdeen
to develop through the curriculum reform a unique
approach to the study of Islam and Muslims.
I call this approach Contemporary Islamic Studies.
We cannot compete with The University of Edinburgh
on topics such as Middle East or traditional Islamic
studies.
Or with the Centre for the Study of Islam for
theological approaches.
Contemporary Islamic Studies




My visit to the National Centre of Excellence for
Islamic Studies Australia.
Melbourne University, Griffith University, University of
Western Sydney (UWS).
UWS: develop a new approach to the study of Muslims
which brings together Muslims and non-Muslims and
offers UG courses aimed to develop specific skills for
journalists, politicians and so on.
Strong focus on PG and research.
Contemporary Islamic Studies


Based on a social scientific approach to Muslim culture
and issues worldwide.
Offering an understanding of contemporary global
challenges.








Global flows of ideas and knowledge.
Economic networks and Muslims.
Flows of people through migration.
The global development of the Muslim diaspora.
Global revivalism and the emergence of religious centres.
Religious practice and politics.
Global networks of reformism and Islamic movements.
Muslim countries, groups and conflicts.
Contemporary Islamic Studies


The aim is to develop a program, and possibly a centre
for advanced research, which connects University of
Aberdeen to other international universities (in Europe,
USA, and Asia) that are developing similar approaches
to the study of the Muslim world.
Contemporary Islamic Studies can be one of those
New Aberdeen Courses designed to introduce,
compare and apply to specific problems.
What we have, what we need






We have some members of staff within the College of
Arts and Social Sciences with the right skills to start
such a project.
I have tried more than once to do so.
Shared vision among the member of staff.
Difficulties experienced at the level of School
administration.
Need to develop the project at College level.
Need a ‘strategic’ recruitment of new staff to support
the fields of Contemporary Islamic Studies.

Example: in the case of a vacancy within the school of law, priority
being given to select a new member of staff who can also contribute
to courses or supervision in the field of Shari’a law.
What we can miss





We are among the first 200 universities in the world, aiming to be
among the first 100 in forthcoming years.
We are the only university which has no visible program (not
even a minor!) concerning Islamic studies or the study of
Muslims, despite validating the Al-Maktoum Institute.
There are discussions to start a ‘European centre of excellence
for Islamic studies in the UK.’
As far as I know, we are not part of that discussion.
By providing an extremely visible and innovative, but
internationally appreciated, approach such as Contemporary
Islamic Studies, we cannot only take part in that discussion, but
possibly be among those universities that will lead it.