Search for:

Site index

You are in :

• About us
  • > SIS
    • > Islamic studies

• UK network
• Digitisation of resources

Strategically important subjects: Islamic studies

The Government designated Islamic studies a strategically important subject in June 2007. Following a period of research and consultation, we have developed a programme of work designed to address its strategic importance. This comprises:

• a UK network for Islamic studies
• the digitization of Islamic studies resources
• a European symposium on Islamic studies.

We have allocated £1 million to support Islamic studies as a strategically important subject over the period 2007 to 2012. The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Scottish Funding Council also contribute funding towards the UK Network for Islamic studies.

Research and consultation

The Islamic studies programme of work developed from research and consultation activities throughout 2007 and 2008. These included:

• Dr Siddiqui's report, Islam at Universities in England (Adobe PDF 282K)
• a HEFCE report on the trends and profiles of Islamic studies courses and students in the UK (HEFCE 2008/09)
• a desk-based report, 'International approaches to Islamic studies in higher education', which considers the academic approach of selected countries (including the UK) to the study of Islamic studies in higher education
• two seminars

  • Seminar report on 'Islamic studies: current status and future prospects', November 2007

    [ Adobe PDF 96K | MS Word 144K ]

  • Seminar report on 'Islamic studies: the way forward in the UK', April 2008

    [ Adobe PDF 111K | MS Word 128K ]

The HEFCE Board has regularly received updates and endorsed the development of the Islamic studies programme of work. The latest Board paper is 'Supporting Islamic studies as a strategically important subject – update' paper 90, September 2009.

Sector impact assessment

In developing our programme of work on Islamic studies, we have formally assessed its impact on the HE sector in terms of regulatory burden, equality and diversity, and sustainable development. The sector impact assessment is currently under review and an update will be published by the end of 2009.

Sector impact assessment of Islamic studies

[ Adobe PDF 32K | MS Word 110K ]

Stakeholder updates

We send quarterly updates to the stakeholders signed up to our mailing list.

Quarterly update June 2009

[ Adobe PDF 7K | MS Word 48K ]

Quarterly update October 2009

[ Adobe PDF 11K | MS Word 51K ]

Further information

For more information on our approach to Islamic studies or to join our stakeholder mailing list, e-mail islamicstudies@hefce.ac.uk or call Victoria Waite, Project Manager on 0117 931 7254.

Last updated 4 November 2009