Particularly noteworthy are the discussions with some colleagues from al-Azhar University, who were open to academic and cultural exchange as well as future collaboration with the Department. The focus was on the topic of a future language trip for students from the Department to improve their Arabic language skills.

Cooperation with al-Azhar University could prove constructive, as it was founded in the tenth century and is therefore one of the oldest universities in the world. In addition, Islamic theology has been taught at al-Azhar University since its foundation and, despite numerous challenges, the university is recognised by many Muslims as a place of Islamic scholarship. Students at the Department would thus have the opportunity to improve their Arabic language skills, familiarise themselves with other traditions of knowledge and engage in intercultural exchange.

In addition, the city of Cairo and its surroundings are home to a cultural heritage of international standing, from the pyramids in Giza to numerous mosques and madrasas from the early Islamic, Mamlūq and late Ottoman periods. Visiting these sites would further motivate students to hold conversations in Arabic in order to broaden their academic and cultural horizons.

To summarise, the trip to Cairo can be considered a success, as concrete steps were taken towards planning a language trip and possible cooperation.

Written by Bego Hasanović