Top Islamic scholars to participate

PUBLIC who are interested in Arabic and Islamic literature, civilisation and history are invited to participate in the Second International Conference on Arab Studies, in a bid to share knowledge on the contribution that have been made by Muslim scholars to develop and spread the Arab studies throughout the world.

"I call for members of the public to come and exchange ideas in enhancing our knowledge on the contribution of Islamic scholars in the Arab Studies locally and globally," said Dr Siti Sara Hj Ahmad, Director of the Knowledge and Language Development Centre at Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) yesterday.

This year's event under the theme of "The Contribution of Islamic Scholars in the Arab Studies between Tradition and Renovation" will be held from 15-16 February.

Dr Siti Sara, who is also the co-chairperson of the organising committee, said that the conference aims to be a platform to discuss the roles of Muslim scholars to develop and spread the Arab Studies, getting to know the noted Muslim scholars and the new ones better, examining the importance and relationship between the study conducted by the Islamic scholars and the current knowledge development.

The programme also provide opportunity to members of academics to discuss topics and current study which is related to the field of Arabic Studies and identify areas of extensive scientific research in the field of Arabic studies.

She added that the speakers will be presenting working papers in the areas of linguistic, literature, history, civilisation and translation. Citing examples, in the field of literature it comprises Arabic literature, Islamic literature, and comparative literature, while in the field of history it will touch on the issues of the history of earliest times, middle, modern and contemporary as well as the study made by historian.

The conference is open to representatives of government agencies and private sector domestically and overseas, lecturers, teachers, students and individual.

The participation cost for representatives from government agencies and private sector is $100, while cost for students and individual are $20 and $50 respectively.

The registration opens at UNISSA campus from 8am to 4pm or on the first day of the conference before 8.30am in ICC. For further information, please contact the Faculty of Arabic Studies and Islamic Civilisation at UNISSA at 2462000 extension 301. Sally Piri

The Brunei Times