Doha: A series of workshops examining Public Policy in Islam called, “Thinking like a Policy Analyst,” has been launched by Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (QFIS) in conjunction with Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU).
The workshops, which begun in November and will run until January 14, 2014, are organised by the Public Policy in Islam Master Programme and are aimed at executive employees working for the public and private sectors in Qatar.
They take place every Tuesday evening at the faculty’s premises with a different module presented each week by experienced practitioners.
The training programme combines theory and practical knowledge on Public Policy and Islam through case studies. Areas such as poverty alleviation, corruption, international development, Islamic governance and leadership in policy making are examined through the application of Islam and public policy.
The primary objective is to introduce social and economic challenges from an Islamic-based perspective. In the first session held on November 19, coordinator Dr. Evren Tok framed a key question, “How to think like a policy analyst?”
Dr. Tok said: “Thinking like a policy analyst requires more than technical knowledge. In fact, values play an important role in every stage of policy process. This method is based on putting the Islamic values as the basis of policy making and analysis, whether in defining the problems, setting priorities, or any other policy-making activity.”
“Islamic values are known as ‘Maqasid Al Shariah’, these are purposes and objectives of Islamic law. They put the well-being of the human at the centre of policy making and place basic rights, needs and necessities as a core issue.”
The nine week-long series will finish with a closing ceremony and a poster session by the participants.
The Master Programme of Arts in Public Policy in Islam is a multidisciplinary programme designed to respond to contemporary social and economic challenges from an Islamic-based perspective.
Public Policy in Islam Programme conducts this workshop in collaboration with the Executive Training and Consultation Unit at QFIS under the management of Professor Dr. Al Sayed Al Siefy, the Associate Professor of Finance and the Director of the Unit, and under the administration and operation of Ezzeddine A. Ben Abdennebi, Head of the Unit at QFIS.
It offers a large variety training programmes that are related to Islamic finance and banking, Islamic insurance, risk and asset management, as well as strategic leadership and public policy training courses.
