The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb stated: “Learning languages is not limited to acquiring writing, speaking and listening skills, but it is also a study of all the values that cultures and civilizations hold, including the history of nations. It is also one of the good means of replacing hatred and tension with a culture of peace and acquaintance”.

During his meeting with Dr. Scott MacDonald, CEO of the British Council, today, Wednesday, at Al-Azhar Headquarters, the Grand Imam added: “We are ready to open new horizons towards enhancing cooperation with the British Council”. He also pointed out that cooperation between Al-Azhar and the British Council began in 2007, and that 1,161 graduates of Al-Azhar primary religious faculties benefited from it. These are the faculties of Theology, Arabic Language, and Sharia and Law. Besides, English language teachers at Al-Azhar institutes benefited from the Council too. 

For his part, Dr. MacDonald expressed his pleasure to visit the Grand Imam, noting: “I grew up in the Middle East and know very well what Al-Azhar represents to the Muslim world as a great assert and a referential authority for Muslims around the world”. He also wished that the cooperation between the British Council and Al-Azhar continues, and that the largest possible number of students and teachers at Al-Azhar benefit from this cooperation.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Prof. Muhammad Ad-Dhawini, Deputy of the Grand Imam, and Dr. Scott MacDonald signed a 3-year renewal protocol of cooperation protocol between Al-Azhar and the British Council, extending to March 2025. This protocol represents the seventh phase of cooperation between the two sides, which began with the establishment of the Al-Azhar English Training Center in 2007, and the training of teachers of Al-Azhar institutes over these years. Already 4,600 teachers, along with outstanding students at Al-Azhar University, received training on constructive interfaith dialogue. This cooperation also involves an academic scholarship program for Al-Azhar students to study Islamic disciplines in UK universities.

The protocol stipulates the establishment of an English Language Center in Luxor during the next year, developing the skills of Al-Azhar English language teachers through a program especially designed for this purpose, and launching a pilot program to develop English language skills for teachers of science and mathematics, as well as launching a specialized program in English to enhance the skills of teachers and students at Al-Azhar University on how to address the crisis of climate change and raise their environmental awareness.

The meeting was attended by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ad-Dhawini, Deputy of the Grand Imam, Dr. Abdel Dayem Nusseir, Adviser to the Grand Imam for Scientific and Cultural Relations, and Mrs. Ruth Cox, Deputy Director of the British Council in Cairo.