Term 2006 – 2009
Second Meeting of Executive Council, Karachi, Pakistan 18 February 2007

The Muballigheen/Aalim Training Programme is on track to begin instruction in September 2007, inshallah.  Currently, the Muballigheen Training Coordinator is working with stakeholders on different fronts to ensure that the proper administrative and physical infrastructure is in place for a successful programme.  Volunteers and staff have been recruited to fill the following positions:

• Institute Educational Director
• Senior Arabic Lecturer
• Deputy Muballigheen Training Coordinator
• Human Resources Advisor
• Legal Contracts Advisor
• Prospectus Designer
• Concept Designer

Interviews are scheduled with four candidates for the position of Institute Administrator for April 2007 with the aim of filling the position by June 2007.  Additionally, the programme team has finalised the Organization and Consultative Structure of the MTP outlining the relationship among the programme staff, volunteers, and student representatives and the roles and responsibilities of each.   

The programme staff have finalised the course curriculum which includes both western academic subjects and classical Islamic subjects.  For the western courses, the programme staff is in consultation with Dr Hasnain Walji, Dr Hamid Mavani, Dr Liyakat Takim and Sheikh Safder Razi to determine how these courses can be suitably tailored and to determine the mode of delivery of these courses to the students.  Additionally, a course summary and schedule has been produced outlining the delivery time for all courses and modules. 

The World Federation is pleased to inform you that a prominent University in England has agreed to validate the MTP as a Masters Programme under the University Faculty of Education. The Academic Regulations will be based on a three year programme, plus one year for learning Arabic. For the award of the MA in Islamic Studies, candidates will be required to take and pass 180 CATS credits at M-level including an independent study for which they must obtain a mark of 70% or over.  A Diploma of Postgraduate Studies will be awarded to those candidates who pass 120 CATS credits. We have agreed on a roadmap for the validation process to be completed by May 2008. The University has further informed us that they would be happy to enrol successful Master degree holders for a Doctorate Programme under the University Faculty of Education.

Additionally, two graphic designers have been contracted to design a bi-fold prospectus of the MTP which should include programme goals, prerequisites, and course outcomes for the students and community.  We are expecting to review preliminary designs at the beginning of March 2007 with the hope of having a final design ready for publication at the end of March 2007.

In consultation with the legal contracts advisor, the programme staff is drafting an employee contract template to be used in employing the Syrian staff.  Preliminary comments by the advisor and other stakeholders have been integrated into the template with a second round of revisions under way.  A complete English and Arabic contract are expected by the end of February.

The World Federation has purchased a 36,000 sq. metre plot in the Sayeda Zainab area of Damascus where the Institute and student accommodation will be housed.  Preliminary architectural drawings have been received and are being reviewed by engineers for compliance, practicality, and functionality.

Finally, The World Federation is in the process of registering with the Syrian government in order to ensure that the Damascus Institute complies with all local laws and regulations.