 IIIT started its 4th annual Summer Students program on June 28th, 2010 with an opening session that included welcoming remarks and an introduction to IIIT, its history, vision and mission and current activities, featuring Dr. Jamal Barzinji, Vice President of IIIT and Dr. Iqbal Unus, Director of the Fairfax Institute, the instructional division of IIIT.This year’s program offers five twelve-hour, core courses in Islamic studies and Muslim world affairs beside three six- hour seminars on topics such as Islamic Reform movements (taught by Dr. Hisham Altalib and Dr. Louay Safi), Faith-Based –Entrepreneurship (taught by Dr. Yaqub Mirza), and the Human Being in the Qur’an (taught by Dr. Nizar Alani). The core courses include:
- Qur’an and Sunna, by Prof. Mahmoud Ayoub
- Islamic History & Civilization, by Dr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmed
- Islamic Jurisprudence by Dr. Jasser Auda
- Contemporary Islamic Thought by Dr. Louay Safi
- Muslim World Affairs by Dr. Muqtedar Khan
A total of fourteen students (Six PhD students, four MA students and four seniors) are enrolled in the program. They come from ten different countries including; Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan, Turkey and the US.
Beside the intensive coursework and seminars, the students started a series of field trips to offices of major Muslim organizations in the metropolitan Washington area such as the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), the Council of American Islamic Relation (CAIR), the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), FAITH Social Services and Unity Production Foundation (UPF). The field trips are designed to provide the students with an informed understanding of the American Muslim community, its institutions, achievements, issues and challenges.
A third component of the program is a research paper/project focused on a topic of interest to the student and within the overall area of Islam and Muslim world affairs. Finally, each student will have the opportunity of working with one of IIIT departments (Publications, Marketing, Research and administration) to get a first-hand experience of how IIIT operates. Special social events at the homes of leading IIIT executives are also organized.
By the end of the six weeks program – on August 6 – IIIT will select six top performing students and offer each of them a one-year non-resident research fellowship at IIIT. |