{"word_count": 542, "character_count": 3977}
Islamic Institutions of Higher Learning in Africa: their History, Mission and Role in Regional Development October 18-19, 2013  Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USAIn recent years, there has been a proliferation of Islamic universities and Muslim institutions of higher learning across sub-Saharan Africa. Although there is a long tradition of formal Islamic learning in universities in some parts of the continent such as Sudan and the West African Sahel, major universities and colleges have recently been established in countries as diverse as Chad, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Africa. Most of the institutions have been established in the last couple of decades.Formal Islamic universities and colleges have emerged in response to three historic trends: (1) the continuing vitality of traditional indigenous Muslim educational systems, which have continued to produce students literate in Arabic and well versed in the Islamic religious sciences; (2) the perception that the programs of Arabic and Islamic Studies within African national universities are too limited and poorly resourced; and (3) the proliferation of Islamic institutions of higher learning that were sponsored by countries and organizations in the Persian Gulf since the Islamic Revival in the mid-1980s.While these institutions are providing much needed education and training to many Africans and beyond, little research has been done on the historical background of these institutions, the politics of Islamic learning within countries and across borders, the subject content and language(s) of instruction, and/or the role of the graduates in society. This conference aims to explore these points by examining the following questions:What role does Islamic transnationalism play in the formation and administration of these institutions? What role do these institution play in research, creativity or economic development? To what extent do they represent continuity or change with Muslim traditional scholasticism and history in Africa? What economic and social role do graduates of Islamic universities and colleges fill in society? Are these graduates creating new dynamics in the way Islam is discussed in the public sphere?This conference welcomes papers that engage with these questions or with other similar case studies. The conference will provide a unique platform in which to bring stakeholders and scholars of diverse backgrounds to explore issues of Islamic scholasticism in Africa and the roles of Islamic Institutions of higher learning in African development. Limited support will be offered for travel, housing, and food expenses for participants from these institutions in Africa.&#160;A short abstract of approximately 400 words should be sent to (iihlaconference@gmail.com) by March 20.  Responses to abstract submission: before Wednesday April 10, 2013. Full papers must be submitted by July 10. Papers in English, Arabic or French will be considered.&#160;Organizers:Mbaye Bashir Lo, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Asian &#38; Middle Eastern Studies, AMES, Duke University (mbayelo@duke.edu)Bruce Hall, Assistant Professor of History, Duke University (bh71@duke.edu)&#160;Screening Committee:Ebrahim Moosa, Professor of Religion, Duke UniversityBruce Lawrence, Professor of Religion, Duke UniversityBruce Hall, Assistant Professor of History, Duke UniversityOusman Kane, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Professor of Contemporary Islamic Religion and Society, Harvard UniversityMbaye Bashir Lo, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Asian &#38; Middle Eastern Studies, AMES &#38; DISC Faculty, Duke UniversityJohn A. Bartlett, MD, Professor of Medicine, Duke Global Health Co-Director, Duke University&#160;If you have any questions on attending the conference, contact Duke Islamic Studies Center, Keri Majikes (keri.majikes@duke.edu).- See more at: http://tirnscholars.org/2013/02/13/call-for-papers-islamic-institutions-of-higher-learning-in-africa/#sthash.7ahwzwwP.dpuf