A Qualitative Study Investigating the Motives of Muslim Women for Studying Islam at a British University

Sumayya Khan

Abstract

This case study aims to explore how Muslim women studying Islam at a particular UK university, conceptualise the purpose of Higher Education (HE), by reflecting on their motives for choosing to study Islam at university through one to one interviews with the researcher. The study includes the voices of Muslim women at different levels of their studies at university, to not only understand different perspectives, but also to investigate whether or not there were any similarities or differences in their understanding of the purpose of HE. The findings suggest that there are various reasons why Muslim women choose to study Islam at university. Some of these include the sheer desire to learn and increase knowledge; to develop the ability to think critically; to aid them in serving their communities and the feeling of empowerment. The findings of this study also suggest that the attitude of Muslim women studying Islam at university, towards the purpose of HE, has not been as strongly influenced by the dominant instrumental discourse that appears to dictate the understanding of the purpose of HE within the literature.

Khan, S. (2018) A Qualitative Study Investigating the Motives of Muslim Women for Studying Islam at a British University. Transformations, [online] Vol. 2(1). Available at: https://educationstudies.org.uk/?p=9620 [Accessed 16 Apr, 2024].

Volume

Volume 2(1) 2018

Full Text

PDF