Kuwait's Oxford Islamic Studies Program Committee Discusses Library Development and Enhancing Scientific and Cultural Cooperation
The Steering Committee of the Kuwait Program at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies held its regular meeting in the United Kingdom to discuss areas of mutual interest, ways to enhance scientific and cultural cooperation, and to follow up on developments in joint projects and initiatives.
In a press statement on Friday, the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) said the meeting addressed several topics related to library development, support for scientific research, and knowledge dissemination.
The Foundation added that Sheikh Dr. Meshal Jaber Al-Ahmad, a member of the KFAS Board of Directors, chaired the Kuwaiti delegation at the meeting, alongside KFAS Director General Dr. Amira Rajab Farhan and Steering Committee member Dr. Sulaiman Al-Otaibi.
It was clarified that the Committee reviewed the latest developments concerning the “Kuwait Library,” hosted by the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, as well as the annual research fellowship program, which provides Kuwaiti researchers with the opportunity to conduct research at Oxford in areas of national priority.
The Foundation noted that the Committee discussed updates on the project to develop the Kuwait National Library in collaboration with the Centre, and ways to leverage the Centre’s academic and technical expertise to support the project.
It further indicated that the meeting also covered progress made in the project to develop the “Atlas of the Historical Spread of Knowledge in the Arabian Peninsula,” which contributes to documenting the trajectories of knowledge development and transmission in the region.
The Foundation emphasized that the meeting aligns with its commitment to strengthening its international scientific and cultural partnerships and exchanging knowledge and expertise, thereby contributing to the development of national knowledge institutions, enhancing research capacities, preserving intellectual heritage, and making it accessible to researchers and interested parties.
It is worth noting that the Steering Committee of the Kuwait Program at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is responsible for monitoring the program, developing its scientific and knowledge activities, and enhancing cooperation between KFAS and the Centre, particularly in the fields of libraries, research fellowships, and the preservation of intellectual heritage.
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, established in 1985, is a specialized institution for advanced studies on Islam and the Islamic world. It received a royal charter in 2012 and is governed by a board of trustees comprising scholars and prominent figures from various countries and representatives from the University of Oxford.
