Transcript Influences on the teaching of Arabic in UK Higher

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 2008.
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% (2002-03
to 2005-06) 955 students
Islamic Studies: enrolment up 12%
(2002-03 to 2005-06) 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 +
Sociology
Business and finance
Religious Studies
Middle East Studies
Law
Study of Islam
and Muslims
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: AlMaktoum Press, 2006.
– Siddiqui, Ataullah. ‘Islam at Universities in England: Meeting the
Needs and Investing in the Future’. Report to Bill Rammell MP,
2007.
– 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% (2002-03
to 2005-06) 955 students
Islamic Studies: enrolment up 12%
(2002-03 to 2005-06) 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
• 17th 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
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Geographical
Student backgrounds and motivations
Type of Arabic/ other languages
Links between Arabic and Islamic Studies
Ethnic origin of Muslims in UK
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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
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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
Sociology
Business and finance
Religious Studies
Middle East Studies
Law
Study of Islam
and Muslims
Network timetable
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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
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/AboutUs/sis/islamic/network/
Contact
John Canning
[email protected]