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 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% ( to ) 955 students Islamic Studies: enrolment up 12% ( to ) 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, –Siddiqui, Ataullah. ‘Islam at Universities in England: Meeting the Needs and Investing in the Future’. Report to Bill Rammell MP, –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% ( to ) 955 students Islamic Studies: enrolment up 12% ( to ) 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 17 th 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

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