Academic Training Programs Abroad

Aims of the Programme

• The academic training programme aims to provide students with an introduction and academic grounding in the issues of multiculturalism, leadership, and cultural engagement.
• Students will be expected to engage with the broad issues of the new agenda for the study of Islam and Muslims, and to gain academic knowledge and understanding in the fields of Islamicjerusalem Studies, multicultural studies, the issues of Muslims, globalisation and international relations, and leadership skills.
• The primary aim of the academic training programme is to challenge and expand all student participants’ intellectual skills and approaches, to prepare them with the knowledge skills required for active leadership (social and academic) for the twenty-first century globalised world, and help them develop their leadership skills to the particular career path that they may choose.

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the programme will be expected to:

• have reflected on, discussed and debated issues of multiculturalism, leadership, and cultural engagement.
• have developed an awareness and understanding of the new agenda for the study of Islam and Muslims.
• be able to demonstrate understanding and knowledge of the central ideas of Islamicjerusalem Studies, and to relate the key definitions and vision of Islamicjerusalem to core Islamic sources and concepts .
• have explored the implementation of the vision of Islamicjerusalem within specific case studies in the history of the region .
• have debated and explored the theoretical debates on multiculturalism, and be able to apply these debates and ideas to specific contexts, such as multiculturalism and diversity in the UK and the UAE
• have engaged with concepts and skills for effective leadership in the twenty-first century .
• have reflected on a range of issues and case studies related to the study of Islam and Muslims as a discipline that is post-orientalist, post-traditionalist, multicultural, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary .
• have explored issues and case studies relating to the context of relations between Muslims and other religions, cultures and communities within the context of the globalised and multicultural twenty-first century environment .
• have participated in class debates and discussions, and made articulate, relevant and intelligent contributions to both small group and whole group discussions .
• shown the ability to write critically and analytically on their engagement with the above issues and ideas.

1. Al-Maktoum Institute in Scotland

The academic training programme is organized by Al-Maktoum Institute in Dundee, Scotland, UK for students of the following universities in the UAE and Qatar:

• Zayed University
• Higher Colleges of Technology (Dubai Women’s College)
• Abu Dhabi University
• British University in Dubai
• Qatar University
• United Arab Emirates University
• American University in Sharjah

Description

The Academic Training Programme in Multiculturalism and Leadership is a preparation for UAE national students and students from Qatar University in the key contemporary global issues of multiculturalism, leadership, cultural engagement, and global awareness. The programme gives participating students the experience of the broad field of the study of Islam and Muslims, within the unique framework of the New Agenda for this field pioneered and developed by Al-Maktoum Institute. That is, the programme prepares students to live in a multicultural, globalized world, and aims to help them to reflect on issues of leadership in preparation for them developing their skills and careers in this direction (in any field of practice). Students participating in this programme will take classes, participate in discussions and debates, and produce written and assessed coursework to demonstrate their engagement with the academic issues of the programme.

This year, we have 5 Qatari students from CAS will be travelling to Scotland, to attend 2 weeks this summer to attend summer course at AL Maktoum Institute.

2. Summer French Courses at the École Normale Supérieure (ENS) in Paris –June 2012

A Prestigious Institution of Higher Education and Research.

The École Normale Supérieure (ENS) is an elite higher education institution (graduate school) for advanced undergraduate and graduate studies, and a prestigious French research center. It encompasses fourteen teaching and research departments, spanning the main humanities, sciences and disciplines. Unique among France’s grandes écoles for its training in the humanities and sciences, the ENS prepares its students for their role as future leaders in every imaginable professional field: in research, media, public service and private industry.

This year, we have 6 Qatari students from CAS will be travelling to Paris from 17th to 30th June to attend summer French courses at the ENS.

The programme will be assessed by the writing and submission of an extended piece of work. This will be a course journal, which will be made up of individual daily entries written by the student giving reflection on and discussion of the academic training issues that they have covered each day. Students will also be expected to include in this course journal a discussion of their initial expectations and reflections on their attendance of the programme and their final learning outcomes and reflections at the completion of the programme.

As students will be encouraged to submit this assessed coursework in printed format, it is bly recommended that all students attending the Academic Training Programme bring with them their laptop computer if they have one.

The programme will be delivered at Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education, Dundee, Scotland, UK.

It will be made up of lectures, seminars, class discussions and debates, taking place daily (Monday to Friday) throughout the period of the Academic Training Programme. Students who participate in the programme will be expected to commit themselves to participate fully in this academic programme, and to demonstrate that they understand that their attendance on the programme in Scotland will be for academic training.

The programme will be structured around at least 60 hours of classroom time (and on occasions may be well in excess of this). Students will also be expected to devote at least 20 hours of independent learning time during the programme.

The medium of instruction of the programme is English.

Two CAS students from Environmental Sciences due to travel to: (1 female student) travelling to Germany and (1 male student) travelling to Japan for internship in Tokyo University.

This is part of the Exchange Program with both Universities (in Japan and Germany) and will also will be counted as summer Internships for our two students to gain hands-on experience in their field.

Terms and Conditions

To be eligible for the scholarship, student must meet the following conditions:

1. In their final years of undergraduate studies (i.e. 3rd or 4th year) .
2. Have grade averages that are within the top 10% of their class group .
3. Studying in any discipline within the Study of Islam and Muslims, which includes any subject areas within humanities, social sciences, as well as Islamic Studies .
4. Have excellent language skills, and in particular be demonstrably fluent in English (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) .
5. Be able to travel to and stay in Scotland for the duration of the programme under the supervision of the university chaperone .
6. Should also be good ambassadors to represent the university and the country .

Students should apply directly to the department chair and pass a personal interview. For more information, please contact the department’s secretary.

NOTE :
The above items must be submitted by mail at almaktoum.scholarship@qu.edu.qa, or hand delivered, in one envelope. Candidates who have met all the criteria will receive notification.

Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis to outstanding candidates on the basis of academic distinction.

• Summer Scholarship: Applications and accompanying back up materials will be received starting from November of each year.
• Spring Scholarship: Applications and accompanying back up materials will be received starting from April of each year.