Oleg Yarosh

Online learning platforms and transmission of Islamic knowledge in Central Eurasia

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The paper addresses Islamic online learning platforms that attract students from the post-Soviet countries. The first Russian-language Islamic learning platform, Medina Academy, was launched in 2017 and several other learning platforms connected to the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) have been established in recent years. The special focus is placed on the Institute of Knowledge Integration (IKI) Academy’s learning platform. This academy offers courses in both English and Russian, attracting students from all over the world, particularly those from the post-Soviet countries. The institute offers a Postgraduate Certificate Program in Islamic Thought and Knowledge Integration, along with a range of individual online courses and webinars. The paper considers core principles that guide IIIT’s educational initiatives, informed by the holistic understanding of Islamic knowledge, known as “Integration of Knowledge”. It also analyses the structure and content of the IKI Academy curriculum, extracurricular activities, Russian-speaking students’ demographics, and addresses through survey their motivations, expectations, and the impact of the learning on their understanding of Islam.