Founded in 1902, the Institute of Education is a world class centre of excellence for research, teacher training, higher degrees and consultancy in education and education-related areas of social science. The Institute has long been recognised as a leading centre of educational enquiry. At any one time they host over 100 research projects funded by research councils, government departments and other agencies. The scale and excellence of this research attract large numbers of students from all over the world keen to work with scholars at the forefront of education.
In its first hundred years the Institute grew from a teacher training college to a world-class centre of excellence in educational research and a high profile forum for educational debate. The Institute host lectures on educational issues by the leaders of the main UK political parties and by education ministers from around the world. It also provides a forum for lively debates involving leading figures in the world of education.
On the 15th of June, An event titled of ‘The Principle of leadership’ was held at the Institute of Education (in Elvin Hall) in which issues surrounding leadership were addressed. The event was held in conjunction with the Muslim Research & Development Foundation, Islam21c.com and iMedia Productions in which the main speakers were Ataullah Parker (AMS), Dr Anil Khamis (IoE) and Shaikh Haitham Al-Haddad (MRDF).
Ataullah Parker addressed the social impact of leadership in ethnic minorities and the need for teachers from ethnic minorities to take up leadership positions in schools and their respective communities. Dr Anil Khamis discussed social policies and their effects on teachers and students as well as addressing the educational situation of Muslims across the globe and specifically in the UK. Shaikh Haitham Al-Haddad was the final speaker and interestingly elucidated the relationship between Islam and leadership, a Muslim’s obligation and the effects of Muslim teachers in contemporary British society. As the event was targeted at Muslim trainee teachers, teachers, and headteachers (who at the time were completing their teacher training), they found that understanding the role of Muslims in education as well as their roles as leaders (in schools and their communities) from the Qur’an and tradition of the Prophet to be extremely beneficial and something which they plan to draw from in their professional careers.