The Muballigheen Training Programme (MTP) is the single most important project in the history of the Khoja Shia Ithna Asheri Community. With a clear vision behind the commencement of the MTP, the World Federation is pleased to announce that the recruitment process is now open.

The President of the World Federation, Dr Ahmed Hassam said, "...This will inshAllah be a turning point in the history of our community. With this initiative, we will now be able to secure our own trained resident Ulama, who will be able to meet the needs of our communities, especially of the younger generation and also provide effective guidance to each and every Jamaat in the world...”

15 participants will be selected for the start of the 4 year course on 8 September 2007 to begin a journey of a lifetime for the betterment of themselves and their community, both in this life and in the hereafter, by earning the pleasure of Allah (SWT) and spreading the message of the Ahlul Bayt (AS).

Islamic Institute for Postgraduate Studies

Introduction

The Islamic Institute for Postgraduate Studies in Sayyida Zainab, Damascus (Syria) is a new and exciting development in teaching, and research in the study of Islam. It is an independent institute set up by The World Federation of KSIMC that offers a postgraduate Masters programme in Islamic Studies, combining standard Hawza training modules with modern academic subjects, validated by a renowned university in England.

The Four year course is designed:-

• To provide an in depth study of the Qur’an and its exegesis, sciences of Traditions, Jurisprudence, Principles of Jurisprudence, Logic, History, Islamic Theology, Philosophy and Ethics.
• To provide the intellectual capability for the non-confrontational defence of Islam and for the favourable presentation of Islam as per the teachings of the followers of the Members of the Household of the Prophet.
• To develop in the participants, confidence in leading of all forms of congregational prayers, lecturing and conducting seminars in the language of the community and country.
• To develop in the participants the competences necessary for undertaking guidance of community institutions like children’s Madressah, schools, youth camps, seminars etc.
• To develop in the participants the competences necessary for relating to all age and gender groups within a community.
• To develop in the participants confidence in the performance of all Practical Religious Services.

Upon the successful completion of the taught modules, participants will proceed to write and submit an MA dissertation. This will be a personal research project in a field of one’s choosing. Although it will involve mostly personal study, there will be ample opportunities for individual tutorial support.

The Institute quality assurance is embodied in the belief that it is the responsibility of every participant in the programme to contribute to quality assurance. This full participation in and commitment to quality assurance procedures will be achieved through:

• A clear documentation of the course for students through course and module handbooks which outline aims and objectives, schedules and teaching content, assessment guidelines and marking criteria, and indications of further reading.
• Approaches to assessment which ensure good formative and summative assessment and feedback, consistent gradings against academic criteria and effective internal and external moderation.
• Tutor evaluation of the teaching programme.
• Ongoing student evaluation through module evaluation and course meetings.
• Engagement with issues raised in external examiners’ reports.

Feedback from all these sources will be collated in the annual course report and an action plan will be produced to address issues of concern and to ensure ongoing quality enhancement.  The formal reporting procedures will ensure that the health of the course is reported and accountable at all levels.

The academic niche of the Institute places it as one of the key post-orientalist, post-traditionalist, and multicultural institutions in the world, where participants will be acquainted with a range of model, pioneering studies and methodological and interpretive approaches in each relevant field of Islamic thought.

For further information, email iips@world-federation.org

Click here for the Islamic Institute for Postgraduate Studies website