Doha: The College of Islamic Studies (CIS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) has signed a two-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Al Sharq Forum. This agreement is intended to play an integral part in further developing the impact of their programmes on the region’s youth. 

ASF comprises a network of committed and active youth, focusing on driving change towards a more inclusive and just world, under the wing of the Al Sharq Forum, established in 2013.

Under the agreement, CIS will act as one of the strategic academic partners to ASF and create new exchange and joint research opportunities for scholars, researchers and students of the partner institutions. 

On an educational level, CIS faculty will co-produce courses with ASF, which will be published on the Al Sharq Academia Platform. The AL Sharq Academia platform offers academic courses in fields of social sciences and humanities. 

Besides sharing knowledge and expertise, the CIS recommending faculty members will teach and mentor youth participating in ASF programmes and promising CIS students with their internship programmes. 

Both sides will be collaborating on relevant research possibilities and contributing to each other’s publications. 

According to the MoU, CIS and ASF can engage their networks of experts and practitioners to co-host and co-organise workshops, summer schools, seminars and masterclasses. 

Commenting on the agreement, Dr Mohamed Affan, Acting Research Director and Managing Director of ASF, welcomed all institutions to gather forces to chart a better future for the new generations. 

This MoU with HBKU offers Al Sharq Forum a unique chance to pursue its projects and initiatives with a leading class partner, who shares similar values, commitment and aspirations.

Dr M Evren Tok, Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Innovation and Community Engagement at HBKU said that at a time when millions around the world are impacted by the devastating consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, this MoU is expected to pave the way for successful collaboration between the two institutions to mutually benefit from the development goals, which will touch the lives of the youth in the near future.