Faculty of Islamic Sciences marks 47th anniversary: Continuous growth and development

(Patria) - The Faculty of Islamic Sciences (FIN) of the University of Sarajevo (UNSA) was founded on this day, September 29, 1977, and for 47 years it has been open to those interested in Islamic thought in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As stated for the MINA Agency by the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hasani, this is a significant anniversary, and they understand it as a sufficient period in which it can be said that this higher education institution of the Islamic Community has continuously grown and developed, fulfilling its mission and role, which was set at its founding.

"We are still developing and fulfilling our mission today," he emphasized.

He stated that they renewed their staff in the past academic year, which they consider an important step forward.

"Some of our professors have retired, and that was an opportunity to bring in some younger people to the Faculty. This youth is recognizable, and I am especially pleased to witness new energy. We expect a lot from the younger generation, that they will be better than their predecessors," said Dean Hasani, adding that they have also introduced professional associates for imams-muallims' practice and religious education methodology into teaching.

He added that September, in general, is important for the Faculty of Islamic Sciences, as it represents not only the end of the year but also the period of enrollment for new students.

"It is important to inform the public that this year, already in the July admission period, we had filled capacities in two departments - theological and pedagogical, and in September, we only supplemented the quota in the imam department. This shows us that there is great interest in these study programs and that we have done our homework in preparing our communication with high school graduates last year. We plan to continue this," he said.

He also points out that this year they managed to realize the study trip project.

"We hope that these will be new experiences for students that will motivate them to continue working, learning, and contributing to our community," Hasani emphasized.

They are marking the Faculty's anniversary with a series of activities. One of them was the first meeting of professors from Islamic faculties in the Balkans, held on September 26 and 27.

"We are also organizing a closing ceremony for two programs in Arabic. Currently, a group of our students is in Istanbul, attending an Arabic language course. This year, with our hosts, we managed to organize for female students to also attend the course. Also, next weekend, on October 5 and 6, we will have an international conference, where professors, researchers, and scientists from the United States, Canada, Europe, and the East will come. The topic is contemporary challenges of Islam. There is a lot of content, and it is all part of the story about the faculty's anniversary," said Dean Hasani.

He emphasized that they are already preparing for the jubilee - the 50th anniversary of the faculty, which will be marked with a series of events.

The architecture of the building and the overall environment in which the Faculty exists, along with the current study programs, testify to the established harmony between traditional and contemporary Islamic sciences and between Eastern and Western cultural values.

The Faculty will continue its mission in the future, inspired by Islamic imperatives to promote knowledge.