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Document Details :

Title: Leiden Islam Academy
Subtitle: A First-Hand Analysis of an Innovative Teaching Program
Author(s): BOENDER, Welmoet
Journal: Studies in Interreligious Dialogue
Volume: 29    Issue: 1   Date: 2019   
Pages: 125-139
DOI: 10.2143/SID.29.1.3286458

Abstract :
Between 2014 and 2017, an innovative teaching program has run at Leiden University (the Netherlands), called Leiden Islam Academy. Its aim is sharing academic knowledge about Islam with a diverse audience within and outside academia. This contribution presents the program as a 'best practice', positioning its activities within three contextual needs. First, a societal need for information about Islam in the context of an emotionally fierce public and political Islam debate. Second, a need of Muslim students who seek academic knowledge of their religious tradition. And third, a university need for knowledge valorization. From an inside position, the author reflects upon two predicaments: the fierceness of the Islam debate, and a (radical) transformation of the traditional authoritative position of the university.

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