Royal Charter Granted to the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies

Royal Charter Granted to the Oxford Centre

for Islamic Studies

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) has been granted the Royal Charter. This will be celebrated at an event hosted by the Centre’s Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales, on 15 May, 2012.

Royal Charters, granted by the sovereign on the advice of the Privy Council, have a history dating back to the 13th century. They are now normally granted only to bodies that work in the public interest and which can demonstrate pre-eminence, stability and permanence in their particular field.

The University of Oxford, and many of the Oxford Colleges, as well as a number of other leading British academic institutions, are similarly incorporated by Royal Charter.

On this auspicious occasion, Dr. Farhan Nizami, CBE, Director of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, issued a press release, saying: “This is a most important and welcome moment and I would like, on this occasion, to thank warmly all those who have encouraged and assisted the Centre’s development over more than 25 years. As well as contributing strongly to the intellectual and academic life of Oxford, by focusing on the study of Muslim culture and civilization, the Centre has developed active global links with leading academic institutions internationally.”

Dr. Nizami mentioned about different programmes of the Centre. “These are underpinned by our scholarship and fellowship programmes, which attract scholars to Oxford from around the world and widen access to those who wish to research and study at Oxford. Many leading international figures, from the academic world and wider public life, have lectured here,” he said in the press release.

Dr. Nizami is confident that the contribution, and importance, of the Centre will grow in the years ahead and that it has the opportunity to make a unique contribution to greater understanding of the Muslim world, and more positive international dialogue, based on strong academic foundations.

The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) is a Recognised Independent Centre of the University of Oxford, founded in 1985. Its Patron is HRH The Prince of Wales.

The Centre promotes multi-disciplinary teaching, research and publication at Oxford related to Muslim culture and civilization. Its Fellows teach in a range of faculties across the University of Oxford. Through its international outreach, and links with academic institutions worldwide, the Centre provides a meeting place for scholars studying all aspects of contemporary Muslim societies.