HBKU's CIS launches International Symposium on Comparative Education series

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)’s College of Islamic Studies (CIS) has launched the first edition of the International Symposium on Comparative Education series, a statement said.
Qatar Foundation (QF) Vice-Chairperson and Chief Executive HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, who is also the chairperson of the HBKU Board of Trustees, inaugurated the event with a keynote speech.
She welcomed participants and outlined the mission of the new symposium series, which is aimed at holding comparative discussions on classical Muslim scholars’ perspectives on education and contrast them with modern-day approaches.
Remarking on the symposium’s theme, HE Sheikha Hind said: “We chose the great Islamic thinker Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali because his enduring ideas continue to resonate with generations until today.”
She emphasised that “a good education is not just what the student, parent or even the country desires, but rather it should orient us all to what we should aspire for, by offering a holistic world view of how one ought to live in all domains of life.”
The symposium gathered Islamic academics and scholars from around the world to exchange insights on the influential Muslim scholar Ghazali and how his legacy could help transform the field of education today.
The event’s discussions revolved around Ghazali’s educational philosophy, his views on holistic learning, and the high importance he placed on learning as part of his Muslim identity.
Attendees also analysed the foundations of Ghazalian education for the modern age, Ghazali’s ethics regarding education, and how his ideas could form the basis for contemporary pedagogical thought.
Commenting on the new lecture series, CIS dean Dr Recep Senturk said: “We hope to develop a modern educational model that addresses current pedagogical challenges by drawing from the rich history and tradition of Islamic thought. It is fitting for its first edition to focus on Ghazali, as his intellectual legacy continues to hold invaluable insights for modern educators."