Griffith gains Islamic Studies Centre
Story Deborah Marshall
Griffith will offer the State's first undergraduate major in Islamic Studies while increasing postgraduate options.
Queensland's first National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies will be located at Griffith University following announcement of Commonwealth funding worth $8 million.
Griffith University is working in partnership with the University of Melbourne and the University of Western Sydney on developing a range of new Islamic studies programs for Australia at the new Centre.
Dr Mohamad Abdalla, director of the Griffith Islamic Research Unit will be director of the new Centre's Queensland branch.
"The Centre will be instrumental in graduating students who are well-versed in both the Australian and Islamic contexts - a necessary requirement for bridging the gap between the two cultures," Dr Abdalla said.
He said the Centre would offer the State's first undergraduate major in Islamic Studies while increasing postgraduate options.
"Because there is a lack of studies on offer in this area, we want to produce graduates who are well-equipped to enter the working world with a depth of knowledge and understanding of Islam.
"The Islamic Studies major seeks to bridge the gap between Islam and the West," Dr Abdalla said.
The Griffith Islamic Research Unit has six PhD scholars enrolled this year including former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, distinguished visiting Professor at Georgetown University, Washington, DC.
Dr Mohamad Abdalla is the director of the Griffith Islamic Research Unit. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Science and a PhD in Islamic Science, both from Griffith University. He was born in Libya and lived in Jordan before coming to Australia. Dr Abdalla said the aim of GIRU was to provide a meeting point for the Islamic and Western worlds of learning.
In the two years since it opened, the unit has forged links with like-minded organisations and well established Islamic institutions including the International Islamic University of Malaysia. Besides the new undergraduate Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies, GIRU offers short courses and training.