The study of Islam in society is a priority for many social scientists at the University of Warwick and in that context for the last year the University of Warwick has been piloting a new master’s level degree in Islam In Contemporary Societies. The University is now holding a special consultation event with members of Islamic communities, employers and policy makers interested in the programme to get their views on how it can best meet their needs and expectations.

An invited audience of two dozen or so key people will gather in the University of Warwick’s School of Health and Social Studies at 12.30 on Tuesday July 8th to hear from the course leaders and from students already taking part or all of the course.

This will include the experience of senior Civil Service adviser Maqsood Ahmed, of the Government’s Department of Communities and Local Government. He is a current part time student on this programme and says: "I have benefited greatly from this course. It is important to learn to be objective, not subjective. There are many issues, Islamic Law, issues with women and the family, which I had no idea about. And that information has definitely been beneficial to me professionally."

A full podcast interview of Maqsood Ahmed’s experience of the degree can be found here:

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/audio/?podcastItem=islamreeditfinal.mp3

The new multidisciplinary taught MA is run by the Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations in the School of Health and Social Studies (SHSS) and involves leading researchers from the University of Warwick’s School of Law, Department of Politics and International Studies, and the University’s Language Centre.

Professor Muhammad Anwar, one of the course leaders at the University of Warwick said:

"This is an area of immense political, legal and social importance that encompasses societies and nation states where Islam is the religion of the majority of the population and also countries where Muslims are a minority within the population, including in the West."

The students take courses on: Issues of Islam in Contemporary Societies, Introduction to Islamic Law, an the Political Economy and International Politics of the Islamic World. There is also the option of choosing either French or Arabic at the Language Centre. The MA in Islam in Contemporary Societies may be taken full-time over one year or part-time over two years. The course is designed both for new graduates as well as professionals working in the field.

Press are welcome to attend all or part of the event.

For further information please contact:

Professor Muhammad Anwar OBE
Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations
School of Health and Social Studies
The University of Warwick
Tel: 024 7657 4233
Email: muhammad.anwar@warwick.ac.uk

Peter Dunn, Press and Media Relations Manager,
University of Warwick, 024 76 523708 or
07767 655860 email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk

PR52 PJD 30th June 2008

Listen to an interview with the government’s senior advisor on Muslim communities and the first student on the MA course in Islam in Contemporary Societies