The Development Of The Islamic Culture Course At Sultan Qaboos University, Oman: An Attempt To Incorporate Students’ Specializations In The Light Of Lifelong Learning Theories

Anke Iman  Bouzenita; Mohsin  Al Salimi; Saleh Al-Busaidi; Zainab Al Mohamed

Authors

Anke Iman Bouzenita Associate Professor
Mohsin Al Salimi Associate Professor
Saleh Al-Busaidi Assistant Professor
Zainab Al Mohamed Lecturer

Keywords:

Islamic, Culture, Course, Specializations, Sultan Qaboos University

Abstract

Higher education in the contemporary Islamic world is currently bifurcated, with a divide between the scientific and technical specializations on one hand, and Islamic sciences on the other. This research aims to contribute to closing this gap. The Islamic Culture course (ISLM 1010) at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) is a 2 credit-hour university requirement offered to students of different specializations in their first or second year of undergraduate studies. Its main purpose is to expose the students to Islamic thought and culture and their basic injunctions in the contemporary setting. Further development of the Islamic Culture Course at SQU in order to give credit to and incorporate the students’ different specializations under consideration of lifelong learning theories may be an important step in reshaping tertiary education. A research project run in 2018-2020 assessed the students’ general perceptions of the course in relation to their own specializations. Hypothesis: The Islamic Culture Course, aiming at instilling Islamic values and culture into students of all specializations, is in need to incorporate the different specialized and professional backgrounds of students so as to induce a lifelong learning experience. Two questionnaires were distributed to current (Q1: N = 326) and former (Q2: N = 120) students of the course. Survey results were analysed and compared. The research has confirmed a need to incorporate the students’ different specialized and (future) professional backgrounds to better realize the course objectives and overcome the gap between the students’ specializations and Islamic culture.

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Author Biographies

Anke Iman Bouzenita, Associate Professor

Department of Islamic Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University

Mohsin Al Salimi, Associate Professor

Department of Curriculum Development, Sultan Qaboos University.

Saleh Al-Busaidi, Assistant Professor

Department of Islamic Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University

Zainab Al Mohamed, Lecturer

Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Sultan Qaboos University

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