Collaborative Partnerships Project
Collaborative partnerships between universities and Muslim institutions: dismantling the roadblocks
21st century Britain has much to celebrate and also many as yet unanswered questions: one of the most important questions is the potential divisiveness of issues around faith, religion and the way we live with those who have different beliefs from our own. We believe this issue needs to be addressed at many different levels and in many different ways.
The purpose of this project
Our project will build on existing research findings that will make it possible to address these issues at higher education level, focusing particularly on ways to forge a more cohesive society for Muslims and other Britons. Changes are afoot in the Arab world and in other parts of the Islamic world, and we need to be able to capitalise on these changes for cultural, economic and social reasons, to strengthen Britain's position in the world.
This work will bring Islamic Studies academics, scholars and practitioners (including professionals who may have aspects of Islamic studies in their work) to facilitate increased collaborative partnerships and linkages between UK universities and Muslim institutions.
What will happen during this project
This project will run a series of four knowledge exchange seminars and an academic conference. These seminars and conference will bring together academics (who in the case of this research are also 'users') and practitioners in an environment that is conducive to the sharing of experience and opinion. It is envisaged that this process of knowledge sharing will lead to enhanced understandings of good practice. It will also clarify and suggest solutions to obstacles that seminar participants have either encountered in the past or pre-empt for any future linkages. Through these consultations we hope to achieve a critical mass of information that may encourage increased linkages and related benefits for all stakeholders involved.
Project summary