REPORT - Civilisational Dialogue
Section 1: Topic question (see below)
Section 2: Short reflections: most interesting and most challenging issues
Section 3: Conclusion/reflections
Section 1: Topic
In this part of the report, students will be expected to show their understanding of and engagement with some of the academic topics covered in the past week.
In this section they should write a short discussion of ONE of the following topics:
Topic question choices:
1. What are the main arguments for the theories of ‘Clash of Civilisations' and ‘End of History'? What are the main arguments against them? What is new about the world order and what are the solutions?
This discussion should focus on two main theories:
Theories of the post-Cold War era and ‘Clash of Civilisations': Fukuyama and Huntington
The United Nations and the call for dialogue
To answer this, students need to think of the main theories mentioned, as well as the position of the United Nations against them. Students should try to think of them in practical terms: How do they feel about these theories in their everyday life? For example, does the student really think the followers of other faiths and non-faiths are their ‘enemies'?
2. Does ‘Islam' require people to regard non-Muslims and the members of non-religion as their ‘enemies'? Do Muslims consider non-Muslims as their ‘enemies' in practice?
To answer these questions, students will need to think of Islam, including the Qur'an and Sunnah, to see whether it prevents them from interactions with the members of other faiths and non-faith and whether they, as Muslims, practice this in their everyday lives. However, in order to have a non-Muslim perspective alongside a Muslim view, students will be offered other sessions which touch upon other religions. It will be interesting to identify and understand their perspectives in relation to ‘Islam' and Muslims - do they think that we are their enemies?
Students should take ONE of these questions and attempt to answer the question analytically to indicate their critical knowledge and understanding of the topic.
- What have they learnt about the topic?
- What are the main issues, and how does the student understand these issues?
- How does the topic relate to the students studies? What further study would they like to pursue?
Section 2: Short reflections: most interesting and most challenging issues
The second section of the report will be similar to what students did in the first report. That is, it is an opportunity for students to give emphasis to and reflection on the things they have found most interesting and that they have engaged with the most in the classes and activities in the past week. This will include all the classes, and so may involve other topics from those students have been discussing in the first section. Therefore, in this final section students need to say:
What topics/issues have interested them the most in the past week?
What do they want to learn about further relating to these topics?
What topics/issues have they found most challenging?
What further can they do to explore these topics to overcome the challenges?
Section 3: Conclusion/reflection
The final part of this report will be a conclusion. In this section, students are expected to write about their final learning outcomes and reflections at the completion of the Academic Training Programme.
How much do they consider that their general goals and expectations for the Academic Training Programme in Multiculturalism and Leadership have been fulfilled?
Reflecting on the three main things that they were initially expecting to achieve by the completion of the Academic Training Programme, how much have they been achieved, and how important does the student now consider them to be?
How does the student feel that the Academic Training Programme has contributed to:
i) their academic programme and studies
ii) their future career development
Recommended reading
Most of these articles can be found on the Al-Maktoum College website at www.almcollege.org.uk/atp
Attachment:- Ethics in the Quran.rar