Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU) is opening its doors and inviting the local community to several public lectures and events being held at Education City throughout February.

On 12 February, Dr Abdelazeem Abozaid from HBKU’s College of Islamic Studies (CIS) will deliver a lecture titled ‘Shariah Parameters for Upholding Social Responsibility in Islamic Finance’. The lecture will explore the various challenges faced by Islamic financial institutions in bringing about social change. Held at the CIS auditorium at 7 pm, it is aimed at understanding compliance and regulation in the region with Shariah laws requiring financial institutions to be socially responsible members of the community. Dr Abozaid has worked extensively for several Islamic banks and is an expert on the principles of Islamic law governing monetary transactions.

CIS will host another lecture at 10 am on 15 February at its Education City premises titled ‘The Need of the Faqih for Social Science’. Presented by HBKU associate professor Dr Abdelhak Hamiche, the lecture seeks to emphasize the need for scholars and researchers to consider the advantages offered by exploring the social sciences to inform their work in Islamic jurisprudence. The goal is to understand the mutual influence both fields have on each other and its potential impact on future research. Dr Hamiche is an internationally published scholar with over 20 years of academic experience in the fundamentals of Islamic jurisprudence.

Also on 15 February at 4 pm, HBKU’s College of Law and Public Policy has organized a seminar in the College of Islamic Studies building to facilitate a discussion around the subject of ‘Women in Leadership in Qatar’. The distinguished panelists for the event will be Dr Amal Mohammed Al Malki, who is the founding dean of HBKU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dr Amira Sonbol from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, Maryam Al Bader, Legal Counsel in Qatar Foundation’s Legal Department, and Dr Ghida Al Juburi, General Counsel in the Office of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, and will highlight the historical context, the constraints, and the significant impact public policy has made on efforts to empower leadership teams through gender diversity.

Finally, as part of HBKU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ Faculty Presentation Series, visiting professor Dr Chris Rundle will give a lecture titled ‘Doing Research in Translation History’ on 22 February. Dr Rundle is a tenured researcher and assistant professor at the University of Bologna in Italy and is Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. His lecture will take place within the Liberal Arts and Sciences building at 2 pm and the public is welcome to attend.

To learn more about HBKU, or register to attend any of the upcoming lectures, visit hbku.edu.qa.