Singapore will soon open the Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS), a new institution designed to cultivate leaders in both religious and social sectors. The college will offer a four-year, full-time undergraduate program, allowing students to major in either Islamic studies or social sciences, reports the Straits Times.
SCIS plans to collaborate with prominent institutions like the Singapore University of Social Sciences, Egypt’s Islamic advisory body Dar al-Ifta, the University of Jordan, and Morocco’s Al-Qarawiyyin University. Additionally, scholars and leaders from Al-Azhar in Egypt and other respected universities will serve on the SCIS advisory panel, helping shape curriculum relevant to Muslim minorities facing contemporary challenges.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the details on November 10 at an M3 forum celebrating the partnership’s fifth anniversary. This initiative – first proposed in 2016 – is part of Singapore’s efforts to train religious scholars and teachers, or asatizah, to guide the Muslim community in the nation’s multiracial and multi-religious environment. PM Wong introduced the college’s name at his National Day Rally speech in August, though an official opening date has yet to be set.
Emphasising the importance of contextualised religious knowledge, PM Wong stated, “We want them to have the knowledge and skills to provide religious guidance for our Muslim communities, but also an understanding of religion that’s contextualised for a diverse, multicultural society like Singapore.”
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), with governmental support, has structured SCIS’s leadership by appointing Dr NazirudinMohd Nasir, Singapore’s Mufti, as head of the college’s steering committee.
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