Goethe University: Academy for Islam in Science and Society (AIWG) starts the second funding phase
The Academy for Islam in Science and Society (AIWG) at the Goethe University will be funded for another five years by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The BMBF supports the work of the academy with 6.4 million euros.
Until 2027, the AIWG intends to use the funding to maintain the previous key objectives of consolidating Islamic theological studies (ITS) in the academic system and transfer, but in doing so will increasingly position itself as a central hub for cross-university joint projects and for other academic and social measures in the areas of Islamic theology and social diversity and participation. Among other things, it will provide targeted research impulses in the sense of a cross-location subject consolidation and will continue to establish itself as a nationwide research and transfer institution at the Goethe University on Islam and religion-related issues.
“The BMBF has been funding Islamic theology at German universities for more than a decade. During this time, seven university centers and almost 40 professorships have been established,” says Sandro Holzheimer, consultant at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and emphasizes: “The fact that the establishment of the young discipline has been so successful is also due to the AIWG. She has decisively promoted networking and cooperation within the subject and uses a variety of formats to promote a constructive and factual debate about Islam in science and society.”
The work of the AIWG will continue to be implemented at the Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main, but with a nationwide and sometimes international focus.
University President Prof. Enrico Schleiff congratulates the AIWG on the continued funding: “The AIWG has been able to establish itself as a nationwide unique platform for research and networking of experts on Islam. The continued support is both proof of the success to date and an incentive to consistently pursue the strategic development goals. The AIWG forms a central pillar of Islam-related expertise at Goethe University, from which important contributions to the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge production on Islam and to a stronger profile of Islam-related research at our university can be expected.”
In the first funding phase financed by the BMBF, the AIWG was able to successfully carry out more than 20 research projects nationwide by Muslim theologians from various sub-disciplines of the subject at various partner universities via its science formats. In addition, numerous practical projects on various social topics and a mentoring program were implemented. Through its formats, the AIWG and numerous partners have devoted themselves to important and future-oriented research and social topics – for example digital technologies in Islamic theological studies or the question of the professional employment situation of ITS graduates.
“We are pleased that the AIWG can continue to advance Islamic theological research in Germany over the next five years. In the future, we will also work on important scientific questions ourselves and transfer knowledge to society in an even more targeted manner. We take up questions that arise in practice for Muslims and non-Muslims from the home of Muslims in Germany and exchange them with science. We would like to thank the sponsors for their trust in our innovative formats and the recognition of our work to date,” says AIWG Director Prof. Bekim Agai.