Georges-Anawati-Scholarship for Research Projects on the Dialogue between Islam and Christianity

Although the demand for an animated dialogue between Islam and Christianity is not new, only today Muslims and Christians tend to occupy themselves more with each others’ religious and social environments, due to a number of recent political developments. While in Western countries there are numerous institutions and initiatives which serve the goal of better understanding the relations between Islam and Christianity, there are much more limited opportunities of this kind in the Near and Middle East.

In 2005, the Catholic Academic Exchange Service (KAAD) and the Georges-Anawati-Foundation jointly announced the Georges-Anawati-Scholarship. It is meant to encourage the academic discussion about relations between Islam and Christianity in history and present times. The grant is awarded once a year, and it supports doctoral and post-doc research projects in alternation. In recent years, five projects directed by scientists from Egypt and Iran were financed through the Georges-Anawati-Scholarship.

The scholarship is named after the Dominican scholar P. Georges Chehata Anawati (1905-1994). He was born in Alexandria (Egypt) and greatly contributed to a better understanding of Islam in the West. P. Anawati was a co-founder of the Dominican Institute of Oriental Studies (IDEO) in Cairo and published more than 250 academic contributions. He was influential far beyond the borders of the academic world and the declaration Nostra Aetate (Vatican Council II, 1965) showed his handwriting. This declaration was ground-breaking with respect to the relations between the Catholic Church and non-Christian religions. P. Anawati always favored a sincere and animated dialogue between Christianity and Islam. He not only enjoyed a high reputation amongst academics, but also gained respect and sympathy of numerous Muslims around the world.

Applications:

KAAD and the Georges-Anawati-Foundation invite scientists from the Middle East to apply for doctoral or post-doctoral scholarships. Their projects must be carried out in cooperation with a German research institution.

Post-doc projects (duration two to six months) shall be conducted at one or more German research institutions. Scholarship holders are encouraged to participate in conferences, seminars, workshops, etc. in order to present their projects to a broader public and to share experiences and join into efforts in the field of dialogue with Islam in Germany.

Doctorate candidates are asked to conduct their projects as “sandwich projects.” This means that their doctorate projects are mainly conducted at a university in the Middle East at which they receive their degree and publish their thesis. An extended research stay in Germany forms part of this entire program. This way the research project itself becomes part of an active dialogue. Scholarships for this type of projects are granted for a maximum duration of three years.

For further information please contact Dr. Christina Pfestroff: Pfestroff(at)kaad.de