Islamic Studies to continue as ISRA and CSU renew partnership

In a signing ceremony held on Wednesday 18 August at ISRA Academy in Auburn attended by the Governor of NSW, academics and community leaders, the agreement between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Islamic Sciences and Research Academy (ISRA) was renewed in order to continue offering Islamic Studies and Arabic courses through the Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation (CISAC) at CSU.

The renewal of the agreement, originally signed in 2009, is a demonstration of the success of the Islamic Studies and Arabic courses at CSU with more than 2,200 enrolments and 415 graduates during the last 13 years.

The agreement was co-signed by the CSU’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Renée Leon and Associate Professor Mehmet Ozalp, the Director of Charles Sturt University’s Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation (CISAC).

Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley, AC QC, Governor of New South Wales attended the signing ceremony, offering her support for the partnership.

“Congratulations for this agreement, the University and the Centre itself. Charles Sturt University is to be congratulated for recognising the need of Australian Muslims to learn about their religion at this level,” she said.

Prof Leon expressed her appreciation for the relationship between ISRA Academy and CSU saying, “We are very proud of the long-standing partnership between the University and the Islamic Sciences and Research Academy that was launched in 2009, and the subsequent establishment of the Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation in 2011.”

A/Prof Mehmet Ozalp highlighted the pioneering work undertaken by CISAC saying, “The CISAC is a leading national and international partnership between the University and ISRA Academy which elevated Islamic studies in Australia to a new level.”

“Australian Muslims can study Islam from within the Islamic scholarly tradition without compromising the integrity of that tradition. The future of Islam and Muslims in Australia depends on higher learning and its ability to produce a vibrant local community and religious leaders,” he said.

ISRA Academy will continue its collaboration with Charles Sturt University by offering courses from within the Islamic tradition combining it with modern scholarship and contemporary context, all the while ensuring students excel in their academic pursuits.

The MC at the ceremony A/Prof Mehmet Ozalp while acknowledging presence of invited guests, elaborated on the history and pioneering achievements of CSU-ISRA partnership during the last 13 years.

“With the offering of the largest number of Islamic Studies and Arabic subjects, with the largest number of Islamic Studies and Arabic courses and with more than 2,000 enrolments and 415 graduates over the last 12 years, CISAC is pioneering in this space in Australia, perhaps even in the world. The suite of courses that CISAC offers, is certainly unique on the global stage,” he claimed.