The first all-Russian congress of Russian Islamic University’s graduates started working in Ufa

The first all-Russian congress of Russian Islamic University’s graduates started working in Ufa today. More than 700 delegates are taking part in it – graduates, heads of regional Muslim communities, representatives of Muslim clergy from Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Mari Al, Khanty-Mansi and Yamal-Nenets autonomous districts, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, Sverdlovsk, Orenburg, Samara and Ulyanovsk regions and also from CIS countries. The chairman of the Central Clerical Muslim Dept of Russia, Supreme Mufti of Russia Talgat Tadjuddin welcomed the guests.

Russian Islamic University started its history with opening of a madrasah in Ufa in 1989. Later it was renamed into the Islamic University by Rizaitdin Fakhretdin. In 2003 this institution received the status of Russian Islamic University under the central Clerical Muslim Dept of Russia.

“For all years of this institution’s existence we never met each other” – the rector of the University, the chairman of the regional Muslim Dept of Chelyabinsk and Kurgan regions, mufti Rinat-khazrat Raev says – “This forum was initiated by students and graduates and their proposal was approved by the Central Clerical Muslim Dept of Russia”.

For the whole period of existence the University has graduated more than one thousand students. All of them work as imams and muftis in different Russian regions. Three faculties work at the University for today: theological-pedagogical, the faculty of Islamic basics and history and the faculty for retraining and additional education. More than 200 imams have passed retraining courses here in 2011-2012.

“We try to raise the level of imams up to new educational standards” – the rector explained – “In 2012 the University opened a magistracy and its first students will be graduated in 2013. Now training of holders of master’s degree is accomplished in Turkey and six students from Bashkiria will receive corresponding diplomas this year”.

Russian Islamic University develops international cooperation and is included in the International Federation of Islamic universities.

“We have our own base and our own pedagogues for getting solid religious knowledge” – the rector of the University says – “We are interested in development of lingual practice too and intend to open a chair of Arab language here”.

At the present forum representatives of Muslim clergy intend to work up the principles of personnel’s training and directions of further work with youth, including the measures for prevention of spreading of extremist movements and organizations.