Islam On Rise: 06 June 2011Mohammed Shajiuddin, an Osmania University graduate, who served at the King Fahad University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia, is the India representative of Islamic Online University (IOU). He was in Delhi recently. Manzar Imam spoke with him about IOU.
Excerpts of the interview.
MI. How did IOU come into existence?
MS. The idea of the online Islamic University was conceived by Dr Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips. He started the university in 2007 in Qatar where it has its international head quarters.
MI. There are many universities offering courses in various Islamic disciplines. Why IOU?
MS. Changing the nation through education is the motto of its founder. Times have changed. Youths are turning professionals. Many Muslims do not get time to understand Islam. Their life schedule does not allow them time to read Islamic books and understand Islam. It was thus decided to start online courses which could be easily covered during spare times. People are familiar with computers now, hence an online course would be suitable.
MI. Which courses do you offer?
MS. At present, IOU has 26 diploma courses which are free of cost. In March, 2010 we started a four-year B.A. programme in Islamic studies. The only condition for admission to this course is a 10+2 certificate. For diploma courses no formal academic qualification is required.
MI. What response do you get?
MS. In B.A. and other diploma courses we have 5000 students in India. Globally, the number of students in our different courses is more than 40000 in 197 countries. The highest response we have got is from America followed by India.
MI. What are your future plans?
MS. The response in India is positive. With head quarters at Hyderabad, we have centres in Coimbatore, Kerala, Bangalore, Mangalore and Kashmir. Now we have entered an agreement with Islamic Da’wah Centre in New Delhi. The registration for our September semester is open. We are planning further expansion.
MI. What is the course structure of B.A. Islamic Studies?
MS. Most of the course-related and other information are available online on our international website www.islamiconlineuniversity.com and also on our local website www.iouindia.com. The B.A. course is spread over 8 semesters. It is a four-year course but one may complete it in minimum 3 years duration. It teaches Tajweed (Arabic phonetics) for better Quranic recitation, Fiqh, seerah, English and Arabic language, Islamic history and civilization, and introduces Islamic principles to students.
MI. You have signed an agreement with Islamic Da’wah Centre, Delhi and have other centres too. What is their role?
MS. We have many examination centers only for conducting examinations. There are few recognized centres with infrastructure and capacity to run our diploma, undergraduate and graduate courses. IDC, Delhi is one of them. The IOU centres would conduct examinations and also promote the university in their area of operation.
MI. Any specific objective of this course?
MS. There is a growing lack of awareness among Muslims youth about their religion which is often negatively represented. Although the course is open to all with no distinction of region and religion, we aim to educate Muslim professionals about Islam.
(A Delhi-based journalist Manzar Imam can be reached at manzarkhalil@gmail.com)
(In the picture Mr Shajiuddin with Manzar Imam)
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