In the past decades, there has been a growth of Islamic higher education institutes in Western Europe, providing different spaces to reflect upon Islamic notions in a European cultural, social and political context. Public interest in Islamic modalities and modernizing Muslim communities has urged universities to invest in the study of Islam. An important renewal is the introduction of so-called Islamic Theology next to Islamic Studies. Another recurring theme is the training of imams, spiritual caretakers and Islamic educators at high schools. Parallel to these developments, private Islamic institutions have been established that are currently in a process of renewal, adapting to the needs of second- and third generation Muslims. While the latter are primarily interested in (daily) questions of a self-serving theological nature, in the former a political interest of the state is often visible. 

The conference takes into focus this seemingly ‘next phase’ of Western European higher Islam education in which academic (secular-informed) Islam Studies and (confessional-grounded) Islamic theology increasingly meet with each other and with the private Islamic institutions. Islamic private institutions are in need for contextual knowledge (Islamic culture, politics, history, etc.), while universities seek knowledge of the latest development of Islamic theological thinking within these institutions. Furthermore, Muslim scholars work at the nexus of Western and Islamic scholarly traditions, trying to bring these together. Moreover, programs respond to implicit or explicit demands to adapt to the –competing- needs of widely differing groups (academic and non-academic). The ‘Leiden Islam Academy’ which was created in 2014 to cater the needs of new student cohorts outside university, is a case in point.

The conference aims to provide a platform to stakeholders to take stock of these fast ongoing developments while trying to scan some directions, by exploring the following questions: 

• What are current ‘moments of meeting and merging’ between public and private universities, secular and confessional approaches, and academic and non-academic audiences? 
• What (didactic) challenges do the stakeholders face and how do they reflect upon their roles? 
• Which new directions or (didactic) models are emerging in the study of Islamic higher education within the Western European setting?

The conference will bring together Western-European scholars (researchers and practitioners) to share recent empirical insights and reflect upon the dynamics of this highly complex field. 

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For a detailed overview of the program, click here.

For registration and information contact us at leidenislamacademie@hum.leidenuniv.nl

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