History and Mission

“The Markfield Institute of Higher Education celebrates 20 years of delivering higher education programmes and contributing to research in a range of Islamic subject areas. We opened in September 2000 with our first intake on a Masters course and a PhD programme validated by the University of Portsmouth. With this humble beginning, our work gradually progressed over the years to offer an increasing number of pioneering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes validated by different universities including Loughborough University, University of Gloucestershire and Newman University.

Today, the Institute offers five unique undergraduate and five postgraduate programmes at three campuses in the UK (Markfield, Birmingham and London) and it holds a distinctive place within the UK higher education sector. To date over 1,500 students have graduated from our Certificate in Muslim Chaplaincy course, and our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, which includes 33 PhDs.

Many of our graduates have gone on to play leading and positive roles in their communities, places of employment and in society in general. They have become agents of change, leading in education as teachers, lecturers and researchers, whilst others have greatly impacted their local communities in roles as youth workers, advisors, policy development, or as chaplains at universities, prisons and hospitals. Our alumni have been instrumental in the development of Islamic banking and finance in both private and government sectors.

In 2003 Prince Charles inaugurated the NEW MIHE building marking the occasion and highlighting the contribution of Muslims in Europe. The prince commended the institute for its valuable work and stated “I believe that this whole complex here at Markfield, including the excellent library, has the potential to develop into one of Europe’s leading centres for post-graduate study of Islam and the Muslim world.”

Over the last 20 years, a number of internationally renowned scholars and intellectuals have delivered lectures or taught at MIHE including Professor Khurshid Ahmad, Dr Manazir Ahsan, Professor Ataullah Siddiqui, Dr Murad Wilfried Hoffman, Professor Syed Salman Nadvi, Muhammad Umer Chapra, Shaykh Akram Nadwi, Shaykh Adil Salahi and many other academics from the UK and abroad. In addition, the Institute has engaged many scholars from across the world on its Advisory Board and as visiting lecturers.

MIHE has also worked in collaboration with many universities and research institutions in delivering short courses, research and academic conferences. Since its inception, MIHE has been driven by a unique purpose to carry out accurate studies of Islam and Muslims, and provide alternative perspectives and insights into emerging and contemporary issues, and strategies to address them. This distinguishes the work of the Institute from approaches that solely seek to promote a binary ‘clash of civilisations’ narrative.

Another distinction of MIHE is that our education programmes move beyond the narrow aim of developing human capital for the knowledge economy. They, additionally, aim to develop graduates who are able to effectively engage with issues pertaining to contemporary human rights, social justice, human well-being, and democratic citizenship. The nature of the subjects we teach engage students in different ways with contemporary economic, political and social concerns involving the wealth inequalities, poverty, unemployment, racism, crime, child abuse, pollution and environmental damage, and other problems facing society.

Twenty years on we take pride in the progression MIHE has achieved. With dedicated contribution of staff and trustees we are an established UK higher education institution registered with the Office for Students (OfS).

We are also QAA reviewed, validated by Newman University, and accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC). In 2019 MIHE received the Silver award for excellence in teaching (Teaching Excellence Framework, TEF).

The National Students Survey (NSS) results for students’ satisfaction for MIHE are amongst the highest in the country. Our students rate us high in the quality of learning resources, academic support, and teaching and learning. We thank God for what has been achieved to date. There is much to learn, develop and contribute in Islamic-related education, training and research, and we remain determined to continue to make important contributions to both community and society through:Creating intellectual leadership to address current challenges facing Muslim communities and the wider societies.

Advancing dialogue between different faiths, cultures, and civilisations.

Developing of the local community through training and vocational education. Developing ethical human capital by providing relevant knowledge and skills for the economy. With the support of our staff, students and our communities, we hope to continue to develop the institute and benefit not only the Muslim community, but society at large, God- willing.