The University of Sharjah (UoS) has launched the activities of the 7th International Graduate Winter School 2026, organized by the Sharjah International Foundation for the History of Arab and Muslim Sciences (SIFHAMS) under the theme “Scientific Tradition in Islamic Civilization.” The week-long event is held in collaboration with Al Qasimia University, the Institute of Physics at the University of Cologne (Germany), MES Mampad College (India), and the University of Mexico.

In his opening address, Prof. Mammar Bettayeb, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies, welcomed participants to the Winter School, which highlights Islamic civilization and culture and reflects the shared responsibility of conveying its message to people around the world. He noted that the continued organization of the Winter School demonstrates its importance and the values it conveys about civilization, with the participation of distinguished speakers from diverse backgrounds worldwide, contributing to the fostering of cultural and intellectual dialogue.

Prof. Mesut Idriz, Director of SIFHAMS, stated that the Winter School is an international scientific initiative held annually and dedicated to the history of science in Islamic civilization. It targets postgraduate students from various fields of science and humanities from around the world. He emphasized that this edition received more than 500 applications, reflecting the program’s growing global reputation and demonstrating the significance of the Winter School, which has led to tangible research outcomes, including several published academic papers and strengthened international academic collaboration.

The program of the Winter School includes a series of intensive training courses for master’s and doctoral students, focusing on Muslim contributions to science throughout the history of Islamic civilization.

It also offers interdisciplinary courses on the history of science and technology in Islamic civilization. The program further features several lectures delivered by a distinguished group of local and international scholars and researchers, addressing a wide range of topics. These include discussions on the concept of knowledge in Islamic civilization; original philosophical texts, books, and manuscripts; cultural and social foundations of islamic civilization; the importance of protecting heritage and its uniqueness in Islamic civilization; distinguished aspects of Islamic art and heritage; Islamic economics and finance; and selected topics on astrophysics in Muslim history. In addition, the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST), affiliated with the University of Sharjah, will host the final day of the Winter School by offering scientific lectures and a workshop on stargazing at the Mleiha Archaeological Centre.

The opening session marked the launch of the second edition of the book “Islamic Scientific Tradition in History” by Prof. Alparslan Açıkgenç, published by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage in collaboration with the Sharjah International Foundation for the History of Arab and Muslim Sciences at the University of Sharjah, in the presence of Abu Bakr Al Kindi, Director of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage. The book covers topics focused on reconstructing the concepts and knowledge that shaped the sciences within Islamic civilization.