Prominent Islamic academic , Professor Dr Tariq Ramadan, is scheduled to speak at the Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Centre for Islamic Studies International Conference, or SICON, to be held in Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) from 3-5 November.

An Eminent Visiting Professor at Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Centre for Islamic Studies (SOASCIS) since 2013, Professor Dr Ramadan is currently Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at the University of Oxford (Oriental Institute, St. Anthony’s College) and also teaches at the Oxford Faculty of Theology.

At SICON, Professor Dr Ramadan will deliver a lecture entitled “The Impact of Modern Civilisation and Colonialism on Islamic Civilisation: The Needed Response”.  Through his writings and lectures Tariq has contributed to the debate on the issues of Muslims in the West and Islamic revival in the Muslim world.  He is active at academic and grassroots levels lecturing extensively throughout the world on theology, ethics, social justice, ecology and interfaith as well as intercultural dialogue.

Prior to the conference, Professor Dr Ramadan will also deliver a public lecture entitled “Islamic Presence in Contemporary Europe: Its Meaning and Consequences for the World”. The lecture will be open to the public with free admission at the ILIA Auditorium on Saturday, 1^st November.  

The SICON is currently in its fourth year, and holds the theme “The Teaching of Islamic Civilisation in Today’s Universities and Colleges: A Review for New Strategic Educational Goals”. The conference will also feature keynote lectures by other renowned academics in Islamic studies from around the world including Tan Sri Professor Mohd Kamal Hassan, International Islamic University of Malaysia.

With over 150 participants from among scholars, academicians, government officials, members of youth organizations, students, and the public expected to attend, the conference aims to formulate new goals and strategies in the teaching of Islamic civilisation with the view of making it more effective and beneficial to contemporary Muslim societies. The conference hopes to provide a platform for scholars, teachers and students of Islamic civilisation to exchange views and experiences on how best to popularise the subject of Islamic civilisation in their respective institutions and communities.