Category: Excerpts

The International Peace College of South Africa (IPSA) over the weekend celebrated its 10th graduation ceremony. The graduation was held at the Centre of the Book, and witnessed the graduation of approximately 30 students donned in vibrant green, white and black. IPSA is the first and only Islamic institution registered by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in South Africa that offers accredited programmes; a Higher Certificate in Islamic Studies, a Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies, and a Bachelor of Honours in Islamic studies. In 2005, IPSA celebrated its inauguration with the joint graduation of merging partners – the former Islamic College of Southern Africa (ICOSA) and the Darul Arqam Islamic Institute.   The road to accreditation was a long and difficult process, which in 2013 culminated in the momentous achievement of provisional accreditation. In 2015 the National Student records database of DHET indicated that over 1000 students enrolled at the institution since its inception. By 2014, 533 BA degrees and Higher Certificates in Islamic Studies were issued. The institute boasts some of the top ranking Islamic scholars in South Africa, including; Shaykh Fakhruddin Owaisi, Shaykh Ebrahim Moos, Shaykh Ihsan Taliep, and Shaykh Ismail Londt. IPSA, since its inception, has endeavoured to adopt an active role in developing Islamic scholarship and research at a national level. In addition, the institute conducts numerous public programmes. In addition,...