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The University of Münster is set to make history with the establishment of the first independent Faculty of Islamic Theology at a public university in Europe. The faculty, which formally comes into being on July 1, will be housed in the new Campus of Religions, a multi-faith complex currently under construction and scheduled for inauguration in 2027.
Coverage Comparison
Reports from Deutsche Welle describe the creation of the faculty as a "milestone" and a "new chapter" in German academia. The coverage highlights the university's long tradition in theology and the significance of bringing Catholic, Protestant, and Islamic Theology faculties under one roof. The tone across the reports is informative and positive, emphasizing the historic nature of the development and the opportunities it presents for interreligious dialogue.
Key Claims
Since 2021, construction has been underway on the Campus of Religions in Münster, a site that will eventually bring together the faculties of Catholic, Protestant, and Islamic Theology, as well as the Department of Religious Studies. The complex is scheduled for inauguration in 2027, though much of the site is still under construction.
Mouhanad Khorchide, an Austrian sociologist and Islamic theologian, will serve as the founding dean of the new Faculty of Islamic Theology. Khorchide, who has worked at the University of Münster for 15 years and previously led the Center for Islamic Theology (ZIT), described his role as "a unique chapter in history" and expressed deep gratitude for the achievement. He emphasized the responsibility that comes with the position, saying, "We want to make the most of this unique opportunity and advocate for an open-minded, enlightened understanding of Islam."
The elevation from a center to a full faculty gives Islamic Theology greater academic independence. Previously, the ZIT depended on another faculty for key academic functions such as conferring doctorates and habilitations. As a full faculty, it will be able to confer these degrees in its own right.
The establishment of the faculty is partly driven by a growing demand for Islamic religious education in German public schools. Deutsche Welle reports that up to 3,000 qualified teachers are needed in North Rhine-Westphalia alone to meet this demand. The new faculty aims to help fill this gap by training teachers and offering a master's program titled "Islam and Social Work," scheduled to launch in 2027.
The faculty's guiding principles include a rejection of extremism, antisemitism, and Islamism, alongside a commitment to interreligious dialogue and a scholarly reading of the Quran. Khorchide believes the faculty's work will have an impact not only across Europe but also throughout the Muslim world.
Annette Schavan, a former German federal minister of education, has described the establishment of the faculty as a "milestone" and predicts it will be recognized across Europe.