FAQs

The idea for the AIWG originated at the international ‘Horizons of Islamic Theology’ conference that was held at the Goethe University Frankfurt in 2014. At this event, it became clear that scholars of Islamic-Theological Studies and neighbouring disciplines were keen both to intensify communicate more amongst themselves and with other Muslim and non-Muslim actors in society. At the same time, the development of the discipline made clear the significant challenges connected with the realisation of these goals. On this basis, a team led by Professor Bekim Agai came up with the idea of the AIWG and approached the BMBF and the Mercator Foundation for support. From September 2016, the BMBF funded a one-year preliminary phase for the AIWG at the Goethe University Frankfurt; within this phase, a number of wide-ranging discussions were held with potential partners in academia, Muslim civil society and other sectors of the broader society. It soon became clear that there was indeed a need for a platform for sharing expertise on Islam, theology and society at the intersection of theory and practice. The AIWG is thus committed to both goals: promoting cooperation amongst academics and interaction between research and society.

The AIWG has three objectives:

Research: The AIWG seeks to help consolidate Islamic-Theological Studies in the German academic system. To this end, it facilitates cross-locational, interdisciplinary cooperation on research.

Interaction: The AIWG strives to intensify interaction between Islamic-Theological Studies, Muslim civil society and other sectors of society. It seeks to develop solutions by incorporating different perspectives on social issues.

Facts: The AIWG seeks to encourage and carry out the public discourse on Islam on a factual basis by publishing expert opinions and providing experts on Islam-related topics.

In its research formats, the AIWG addresses two fundamental thematic areas: theological questions relating to Islam, and questions relating to Islam in society.

In its communication formats, the AIWG focuses on topics located at the intersection of theology and society, bringing together actors from Muslim civil society and other sectors of society to share ideas and jointly generate practice-related knowledge.

The AIWG announces various funding formats in the areas of research and society. These include cross-locational research groups, fellowships for researchers and expert practitioners, commissioning expert opinions and a mentoring programme for young scholars in Islamic-Theological Studies and Muslim civil society.

The AIWG’s Research Formats target both academic staff in Islamic-Theological Studies and scholars of other disciplines who wish to work on topics related to Islam and religion. Click here for additional information on the Research Formats.

The AIWG’s Communication Formats target actors in Muslim civil society as well as organisations and initiatives that actively pursue the topic of Islam in Germany at the intersection of theology, research and society. Click here for additional information on the Communication Formats.

If you would like to be informed about the funding announcements, please register for our newsletter: newsletter@aiwg.de.

The AIWG integrates all the institutions pursuing Islamic-Theological Studies at German universities in its work. These include:

• The Department of Islamic-Religious Studies at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
• The Institute for the Study of Islamic Culture and Religion at the Goethe University Frankfurt
• The Chair of Islamic Theology and Didactics at the Justus Liebig University Giessen
• The Academy of World Religions at the University of Hamburg
• The Institute for the Study of Islamic Theology/Religious Education at the Karlsruhe University of Education
• The Institute for the Study of Islamic Theology/Religious Education at the Ludwigsburg University of Education
• The Centre for Islamic Theology at the University of Münster
• The Institute for the Study of Islamic Theology at Osnabrück University
• The Seminar for Islamic Theology at Paderborn University
• The Center for Islamic Theology at the University of Tübingen
• The Insitute for Islamic Theology at the University of Berlin

Any newly emerging institutions are also eligible to participate in the AIWG.

No. The AIWG is a university academy, not a confessional one. Therefore, it does not conduct religious community work (such as training imams). The AIWG addresses Muslims in Germany in all their religious plurality and brings people of different beliefs and standpoints together to share ideas and views.

Funding for the AIWG is provided by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Mercator Foundation until 2022. The BMBF provides the Academy with up to 8.5 million euros for its research formats; the Mercator Foundation funds the Academy’s communication formats to the tune of up to 2.8 million euros.

By funding the AIWG, the BMBF wants to reinforce the position of Islamic-Theological Studies in the German academic system and further promote its academic interaction with society.

The Mercator Foundation funds the AIWG with the purpose of advancing the social and cultural integration of Muslims in Germany and setting public discourse on Islam on a factual basis. The Mercator Foundation is an independent private foundation which strives for a society characterised by open-mindedness, solidarity and equality of opportunity. It focuses on Europe, seeking to increase the educational success of disadvantaged children and young people, particularly those with a migrant background, improve the quality and effectiveness of cultural education, boost climate protection and promote the sciences and humanities. The Mercator Foundation stands for the link between academic expertise and practical project experience. One of Germany’s leading foundations, it operates both nationally and internationally. At the same time, the foundation feels a special sense of commitment to the Ruhr Area, the home of the founding family and the foundation’s headquarters.