The AIWG’s research formats connect scholars at the various institutions where Islamic-Theological Studies are pursued both with one another and with researchers in neighbouring disciplines. The AIWG thus facilitates cross-locational, interdisciplinary research on Islam-related topics and promotes the continued establishment of Islamic-Theological Studies in the German academic system.
Researching, networking, interacting:
Our Long-term Research Groups
The AIWG’s Long-term Research Groups bring together academics from different Islamic-Theological Studies institutions affiliated with the AIWG to cooperate on topics of fundamental relevance to the subject. The Long-term Research Groups aim to enhance cross-locational knowledge of subject-specific, transferable topics and issues relating to Islamic-Theological Studies. They thus help to develop the subject outside the immediate region, cement its interdisciplinary status and promote interaction with practitioners and the general public.
Additional information:
Funding is granted for one research group in the field of ‘Islamic-Theological Studies in Academia’ and one in the field of ‘Islamic-Theological Studies in Society’. Within these thematic fields, you may want to focus, in particular, on the following:
- Textual focus. This includes research in Qur’anic Studies, Hadith Studies, Philology and other research areas addressing hermeneutics and the analysis of canonic texts.
- Historical/sociological focus. This covers, for example, research that examines historical geneses and the social content of Islamic ideas, concepts and everyday realities in the past and present.
- Systematic focus. This involves, for instance, theological questions addressing beliefs, how they are reflected on and how they are contextualised.
- Practical focus. This includes, amongst others, pedagogical, ethical and practical-normative issues.
Long-term Research Groups are funded for a period of four years (but no later than the end of the AIWG’s initial funding phase in August 2022). They are designed to generate insights that will decisively further Islamic-Theological Studies. To this end, the topics selected are addressed in the context of cross-locational collaborations and should also have interdisciplinary potential beyond the subject itself. At the same time, through the interaction between researchers and practitioners, the research groups should generate knowledge by addressing questions from the application fields of Islamic-Theological Studies and examining them with reference to real-world perspectives. Actors in the social fields of relevance to the respective topic, particularly from Muslim civil society, would be potential partners for this interaction.
Integration of research groups in the AIWG
A special feature of the AIWG’s research groups is that they facilitate cooperation between various actors from universities, departments and social fields of practice. For their core activities, they can draw on the resources of the AIWG Office. The research groups’ academic work is largely conducted at the university institutions involved, which receive the necessary human and material resources. In addition, however, the AIWG Office provides the funding and locations required to ensure the closest possible coordination and collaboration amongst the academics and practitioners involved; it also actively supports the research groups’ work and helps to secure their academic output. In agreement with the project participants, moreover, the Office regularly conducts public outreach for the research groups and their topics. This assumes that the research groups are prepared to be integrated into the AIWG as a supra-regional, supra-university research and transfer organisation for Islam-related subjects. Thus, the research groups are expected to liaise in a spirit of trust with the Academic Coordinator and other AIWG staff and to agree to partial results being regularly published by the Academy.
Contact
Dr Jan Felix Engelhardt
Executive Director
E-Mail: engelhardt@aiwg.de
Tel.: + 49 (0) 69-798 22457
Addressing topics together:
Our Collaborative Projects
Collaborative Projects allow actors in Muslim civil society and other societal fields of action to cooperate transregionally with researchers in Islamic-Theological Studies or other subjects. The Collaborative Projects aim to:
- pave the way for solution- and transfer-oriented cooperation as well as joint consideration of Islam-related topics that are of relevance to the German context
- amalgamate existing academic and practical expertise
- generate concrete output on transferable topics of relevance to the field
The subject matter must be of relevance to Islamic-Theological Studies and address practical issues relating to Islam in Germany.
Additional information
There is no standard format for Collaborative Projects, which may combine various elements to facilitate interaction (such as workshops, excursions, trips, field work or work shadowing). Whilst in operation, it is necessary for those involved in the project to meet regularly in agreement with the AIWG Office. Together with those responsible at the AIWG, project participants decide on a suitable form of output to be presented to the public in an appropriate way.
Who is eligible to submit applications?
Actors in Muslim civil society and other societal fields of action
- academics at German universities
- applications must be submitted by at least two individuals, at least one of whom must be an academic at a German university with a department of Islamic-Theological Studies. At least one applicant must be an actor in Muslim civil society or other societal fields of action.
Amount of funding
You can apply for funding of up to € 26,000 for events, research and travel for those involved. The AIWG Office supports and advises the partners in implementing their projects and takes on the task of financial administration.
When applying, the following aspects should be convincingly presented:
- the composition of the project team, involving academics and practitioners (depending on the topic, for example, Muslim communities, youth organisations, pastoral workers etc.)
- the topic, the objective and the work programme
- the relevance of the topic or project for the development of Islamic-Theological Studies at German universities
- the purpose of collaboration between academics and practitioners
- the feasibility of the project plan within the period of time applied for
- the envisaged output for society and research
Contact
Dr Jan Felix Engelhardt
Executive Director
E-Mail: engelhardt@aiwg.de
Tel.: + 49 (0) 69-798 22457
Focusing on research:
Our Project Workshops
Our research Project Workshops enable Islamic-Theological Studies scholars to conduct a short-term project over a period of approximately 12 months together with specialist colleagues from other universities or departments. Clearly manageable projects that require interaction or collaboration with researchers outside of your own university or subject area are particularly suitable for this format.
Additional information
Various types of university projects with concrete research output are eligible for funding provided that they contribute to subject area development, internationalisation or communication of knowledge on Islamic-Theological Studies. You may want to discuss and finalise joint publications, for example, or possibly compile expert studies on a compact issue of current relevance.
The AIWG will organise and finance the project workshops according to the applicants’ specifications. Every year, the AIWG facilitates two project workshops which, amongst other things, are allocated a part-time academic associate position for a period of six months to implement the proposal. The project partners and the AIWG are to agree on an appropriate form of output which is made available to the (specialist) public via suitable publication formats.
Application eligibility
Professors, academic staff, doctoral candidates and other researchers at German universities who are working on a topic of relevance to Islamic-Theological Studies are eligible to apply. At least one of the applicants must be based at an Islamic-Theological Studies institution. If both applicants are Islamic-Theological Studies scholars, they must be based at different institutions.
Amount of funding
- a part-time (50%) academic associate or freelancer for up to six months (located at the AIWG Office)
- costs associated with the events, research, travel and for the participants (up to € 15,000, managed by the AIWG Office)
- organisational and administrative support from the AIWG, including assistance and advice
Selection criteria
- the relevance of the proposal to the specialist discipline or its social significance
- inclusion of expert researchers in Islamic-Theological Studies and other disciplines
- cross-locational structure
- coherent, feasible concept
Contact
Gülbahar Erdem
Coordinator for Research Formats and Research Fellows
E-Mail: erdem@aiwg.de
Tel.: 069-798 22 448
One weekend, one topic:
Reading Weekends
Reading Weekends allow Islamic-Theological Studies scholars to intensively grapple with authors, works, theories and methods that are relevant to the fundamental fields of research and discourse on the subject. These could be authors and works in the Islamic tradition or from the present day, or from disciplines neighbouring Islamic-Theological Studies. After the event, the discussion leaders are to write a short essay on the texts discussed, focusing on the issues and particular interests of Islamic-Theological Studies. This summary text will then be published online.
Additional information
For Reading Weekends, up to ten participants can benefit from rooms at the AIWG for three days as well as accommodation and travel expenses. The AIWG also takes on organisational and administrative responsibility for the event. The applicants usually lead the Reading Weekends and are responsible for running them.
Who is eligible to apply?
- Professors, academic staff, doctoral candidates and other researchers at German universities are eligible to apply.
- Applications must be submitted by two people jointly. At least one of the applicants must belong to an Islamic-Theological Studies institution. If both applicants are Islamic-Theological Studies scholars, they must be based at different institutions.
When are the application deadlines?
The closing dates for 2019 are:
- 31 January
- 30 June
- 31 October
Applications should be sent by the respective closing date to: antrag@aiwg.de
Selection criteria
The selection criteria relate to the information included in the application, indicating to what extent:
- the author or work to be discussed is relevant to Islamic-Theological Studies
- the author or work is not yet sufficiently well known in the field
- the selected texts can be viably read and discussed within the time frame
- the potential participants can be drawn from different institutions and/or disciplines
Contact
Gülbahar Erdem
Coordinator for Research Formats and Research Fellows
E-Mail: erdem@aiwg.de
Tel.: 069-798 22 448
Here we are:
Our foreign-language editing
The AIWG facilitates the editing and copy editing of foreign-language publication projects by scholars of Islamic-Theological Studies and other relevant disciplines that are to appear in international journals and series. In this way, the AIWG seeks to enhance the visibility of research and actors in Islamic-Theological Studies in the international arena.
You can apply for a subsidy of up to € 1,000 net for editing purposes. Translations cannot be covered by the editing subsidy.
Additional information
Who is eligible to apply?
Professors, academic staff, doctoral candidates and other researchers in Islamic-Theological Studies and other relevant disciplines at German universities are eligible to apply.
Applications
If a publication has multiple authors, one of the lead authors should submit the application.
When are the application deadlines?
The closing dates for 2019 are:
- 31 January
- 30 June
- 31 October
Applications should be sent by the respective closing date to: antrag@aiwg.de
Selection criteria
- the degree to which the manuscript has advanced in terms of content and form
- the publication’s contribution to international research on the topic
- the publication’s contribution to the continued development and consolidation of Islamic-Theological Studies
- compliance with currently valid academic standards
- the account taken of the German and/or international status of research on the topic
- the prospect of publication in international journals or publishing houses
If required, an external expert’s assessment of the manuscript can be obtained in agreement with the applicant.
Contact
Gülbahar Erdem
Coordinator for Research Formats and Research Fellows
E-Mail: erdem@aiwg.de
Tel.: 069-798 22 448
Connecting young researchers:
Our Forum for Doctoral Candidates
This conference, which lasts several days, is held annually at the AIWG and creates an arena for doctoral candidates of Islamic-Theological Studies in the German-speaking countries to meet and share their thoughts and ideas. The aim of the forum is to promote academic interaction and networking amongst doctoral candidates at the various institutions both amongst themselves and with established researchers.
Additional information
The Forum is divided into joint framework panels and specialist sections, which are drawn up and organised by the doctoral candidates themselves. It targets all doctoral candidates of Islamic-Theological Studies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Additional information on ways of participating, dates and programmes will appear here shortly.
Contact
Dr Rida Inam
Coordinator for Research Formats and Events
E-Mail: inam@aiwg.de
Tel.: +49 (0) 69-798 22447
Well done:
The AIWG awards for outstanding dissertations
An academic selection committee grants two awards to junior researchers in the field: an award of € 3,500 for an outstanding doctoral thesis and a printing subsidy of € 2,000 for an outstanding Master’s dissertation. The award ceremony is held during the annual Doctoral Forum.
Additional information
All graduates and (junior) researchers in Islamic-Theological Studies in the German-speaking countries are eligible to apply or be nominated. You can submit an application on your own behalf or nominate works by others.
In order to be considered for the award for a doctoral thesis, you must have completed your thesis defence and been marked at least magna cum laude. For the Master’s award, your dissertation must have earned you a 2.0 or higher. Your main supervisor must be a scholar of Islamic-Theological Studies in the German-speaking countries.
Selection criteria
The award is granted on the basis of the following criteria:
- an outstanding performance in the respective research field
- the theoretical or methodological foundations of the paper
- the novelty of the approach and insights
Selection procedure
Once a year, a selection committee composed of several scholars of Islamic-Theological Studies and neighbouring disciplines working at different institutions decides on the award winners from the pool of applications received.
Closing date for applications
Additional information on the closing date as well as the application form will be posted here shortly.
Contact
Dr Rida Inam
Coordinator for Research Formats and Events
E-Mail: inam@aiwg.de
Tel.: +49 (0) 69-798 22447
Focus on format
MENTi -
The AIWG's mentoring programme
The AIWG’s mentoring programme MENTi aims to help junior researchers in Islamic-Theological Studies as well as involved individuals in Muslim civil society to continue developing their qualifications and potential and engage with society.