Call for contributions: Islamic studies research blog for social science students.
We are contacting you in our capacity as Associates of the UK Higher Education Academy Islamic Studies Network (ISN). This network, funded by HEFCE and the HEA, brings together those teaching about Islam from a wide range of disciplines to enhance teaching and learning in UK higher education.
Key to our work to date has been a focus on demonstrating that Islam is multi-faceted, that the practices of Muslims varies widely both within a society and across the globe, and thus social science students have to be encouraged to face the issue of interpretation at all stages of their learning. Students are encouraged to approach these issues critically, learning how to weigh up the various interpretations, and apply general social scientific theories and concepts in their analysis of Islam and the lifeworlds of Muslims. More details of the ISN and its social science strand are provided at the bottom of this email.
As part of this wider work that explored what themes and issues academic staff were teaching about in the area of Islamic studies in the social sciences (see below), we am now attempting to develop an online resource to be accessed by undergraduate and post graduate social science students studying a course or module on Islam. The intention is to provide a range of resources and guidance to students who wish to undertake an original piece of research on issues related to Islam. This may be for a final year project or dissertation. We expect this resource to be valuable to colleagues teaching in this field as well.
As part of this resource, we are looking to invite a number of academic commentators to talk about why it is important to study Islam through the lenses of the social sciences. We would like to provide a resource that inspires students to engage with this area of study. The resource can be used across the HE sector for those staff and students who are interested in Islam from a social science perspective.
We are seeking to attract colleagues’ contributions to this resource for students. The intention is that contributions to the Islamic site explain to a potential social science student audience why it is important to develop our knowledge and understanding of Islam and Islamic studies from a social science perspective. We would like them to offer suggestions for topics about Islam and the lives of Muslims that might usefully be investigated at undergraduate level – with (if possible) guidance on how they might undertake their project.
If you wish to contribute to the project, there are a number of different ways (deadline for the first round of contributions is 7th April 2012):
1. Send a short written account (maximum of 500). We would like to include a photograph of you so please also send an image and a short biography.
2. Submit a short (5-8mins) video to our You Tube channel
In the spirit of sharing practice within the sector, we would like all contributions to be Creative-Commons license, so that they can be freely distributed and re-used.
If you feel you could contribute to this project, please do get in touch with us.
Malcolm Todd
Although I am currently employed by Sheffield Hallam University, I will be Professor and Head of Psychological, Social and Communication Sciences, Leeds Metropolitan University, from the 20th Feb 2012. You can contact me at this email address: [log in to unmask]
Max Farrar
[log in to unmask]
We look forward to hearing from you.
Background to the Islamic Studies Network
The Islamic Studies Network brings together those working in Islamic Studies from a wide range of disciplines to enhance teaching and learning in UK higher education. The Network is a project of the Higher Education Academy, and was established in 2009 in response to recommendations from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Islamic Studies is an umbrella term for the academic study of Islam, Muslim cultures and societies and Islamic knowledge through a variety of subject areas and perspectives. More details can be obtained about the Network via the following link http://www.islamicstudiesnetwork.ac.uk/
Islamic Studies and Social Sciences
Professor Max Farrar and Malcolm Todd have been leading on some work in relation to the social sciences and the study of Islam. You can see some of this work via the following links.
http://www.islamicstudiesnetwork.ac.uk/islamicstudiesnetwork/resources/display?id=/resources/alldetails/islamicstudies/C-SAP_case_studies_report
http://www.islamicstudiesnetwork.ac.uk/islamicstudiesnetwork/resources/display?id=/resources/alldetails/islamicstudies/ISN_Case_Study_Vo2
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