SFU Muslim studies program goes abroad
Derryl Maclean, 778.782.4437; maclean@sfu.ca
Ellen Vaillancourt, CCSMSC, 778.782.5278; edvailla@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, PAMR, 778.782.3035; cthorbes@sfu.ca
Robert Graham, 00962776794134 (Jordan); bowfort@gmail.com
Al-Nur Pradhan, 780.695.3283 (cell); apradhan@ualberta.ca
Simon Fraser University’s fourth annual offering of a summer program designed to broaden public understanding of an often misunderstood and feared group shifts to London, England this summer, July 18 to 29.
SFU’s Centre for the Comparative Study of Muslim Societies and Cultures (CCSMSC) and Aga Khan University’s Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilizations (AKU-ISMC) in London have been offering a joint summer program since 2008.
CCSMSC and AKU-ISMC alternate yearly in hosting Expressions of Diversity: A Contemporary Introduction to Muslim Cultures, a non-credit course. The program is accepting applications for 2011.
http://www.aku.edu/ismc/shortcourses/appl_form_shortcourse.asp
CCSMSC director and associate professor of history, Derryl Maclean hopes that despite the shift in location, the 2011 student enrolment is as diverse, global and enthusiastic as last year’s.
Maclean says the program’s achievement of its underlying goal hinges on its attraction of participants who are diverse in composition and perspectives.
“We bring in a wide range of academics internationally to help professionals and lay people worldwide gain insight into Muslim people’s diverse cultures and societies, past and present,” explains Maclean.
“Historically, most of the discussion between and among these groups focuses narrowly on contemporary issues of Muslim extremism. Through this program’s discussions, lectures, films and co-curricular activities, such as a tour of Muslim spaces in Vancouver, we help participants appreciate the complexities, achievements and challenges within Muslim societies.
“We want to increase understanding of how this major world civilization’s experiences and insights may bear upon universal questions that humanity faces today.”
Last summer’s Burnaby campus offering, which was taught by 19 faculty members, attracted 35 participants from diverse occupations, including social workers, journalists, administrators and graduate students. They were from various parts of Canada, the United States, France, Britain, Italy, Kenya, Pakistan and India.
Robert Graham, an urban planner specializing in the conservation and interpretation of cultural heritage working in Amman, Jordan, and Al-Nur Pradhan, a political consultant and accountant in Edmonton, Alberta, were among the participants.
They say the summer program’s exploration of a wide range of subjects affecting Muslims gave them a big picture of the diverse societies in which Islam is the dominant religion.
“The course helped me grasp issues and sensitivities that I encounter in working with Muslim communities,” says Graham. “In a world that is polarized between the west and the east; the have and the have not; and the religious and the secular, programs like this help broaden the western media’s narrow depiction of Muslims.”
Pradhan agrees, and adds: “We learned ways of viewing Muslim cultures and societies that can help us better understand many other non-Muslim groups in a multicultural country like Canada.”
The second week of this year’s two-week program abroad will examine the diverse ways in which people interpret and practise Islamic ideals in a variety of regional contexts.
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Sitwat Tahir
Its a pleasure to know that SFU is offering this program.Diversity in Muslim cultures, is an aspect which would move me to take this program.