For four decades, Alwaleed Philanthropies has supported and spent more than 4.4 billion dollars on social welfare and initiated more than 1,000 projects in over 189 countries, managed by 10 Saudi female members, reaching more than 1 billion beneficiaries around the world, regardless of gender, race, or religion. Alwaleed Philanthropies collaborates with a range of philanthropic, governmental, and nongovernmental organisations to combat poverty, empower women and youth, develop communities, provide disaster relief, and create cultural understanding through education.
We work to fight hunger, improve living standards, support infrastructural projects and housing initiatives. Our projects support communities on ground to achieve sustainable growth, through job creation and access to resources.
We want to achieve gender equality and pave the way toward a better future for the next generation by supporting a series of empowerment, educational and occupational programs.
When natural disasters occur, we take prompt action. We connect and collaborate with international rescue organizations and local embassies, to aid victims and help survivors.
We bridge the gap between cultures and forge the way for global communities to become more open and tolerant. Harnessing the power of academic and creative education, we have established six academic centres and two museum partnerships across the world.
Our aim is to build environmentally conscious communities, promote better resource management, and clean energy technologies. To do this, we are collaborating with community organizations, NGOs, Governments, and change-makers to create a cleaner and greener environment for all.
Since it was established in 2003, CASAR has become a unique center for the academic study of America in a transnational context. Our work blends traditional academic teaching with interdisciplinary conferences, research funding and output, and cultural events such as plays, film screenings, and lectures that cover topics ranging from traditional scholarship, to the arts, journalism and more.
CASAR works to promote interdisciplinary and cross-cultural teaching, research, and programming. Although located in the Arab world, our work in American studies is not limited to studying the political and economic role that the United States plays in the region. Instead, our academic and cultural activities seek to delve into the historical, cultural, and political cross-currents of influence that run throughout the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. Through research, teaching, and programming that reaches both our local Lebanese community and the international academic community, CASAR is committed to operating at the leading edge of knowledge production in transnational American studies.
At CASAR, we adopt a unique, interdisciplinary approach to American Studies which foregrounds historical, cultural, and political links between the United States and the Middle East. The students, scholars, and communities that we work with are encouraged to research and think across disciplines, ranging from the humanities to the hard sciences, creating opportunities to reach beyond the traditional disciplinary boundaries of our field. Located in vibrant and deeply transnational Beirut, Lebanon, and engaged in a range of activities across academia and the arts, CASAR focuses on teaching, research, and community outreach in order to offer an eclectic and exemplary hub for work in the field of American studies.
In 1924 the History of Science Museum (HSM) was created in a much older building that had been created in 1683 as the first purpose-built public museum building in the world. In direct response to the horrors of the First World War, the HSM was intended as a place of safety, preserving scientific objects from the threat of destruction. Robert Gunther and Lewis Evans together were the driving force behind the new Museum. Evans donated his collection of historic scientific instruments to the university. Gunther campaigned for them to be displayed in the building then known as the Old Ashmolean.
Lewis Evans’ collection provided the nucleus around which the Museum grew. Subsequent acquisitions have come especially from Oxford colleges and departments as well as major donors. The Museum now holds a globally unrivalled collection of early astronomical and mathematical instruments from Europe and the Islamic world – amongst many other treasures. Complementing the wide range of objects are manuscripts, early printed works and early photographs.
Much lauded for its innovative learning and engagement programmes, the HSM is very conscious that in a rapidly changing world it needs to continuously transform, while staying firmly rooted in its unique heritage. To mark its centenary, the HSM has thus launched Vision 2024: an ambitious programme of activity to refurbish its public spaces, reinterpret its world-class collections and re-engage new and existing audiences with extraordinary stories about how science shapes our world. Vision 2024 is underpinned by a new focus on inspiring curiosity, revealing beauty and highlighting ingenuity. The HSM’s mission is to explore the connections between people, science, art, and belief, and to give voice(s) to its unique collections in an increasingly fragmented world, by focussing on what unites us rather than what divides us
The Pitt Rivers Museum is the University of Oxford’s Museum of Anthropology and World Archaeology. It was founded in 1884 when General Augustus Lane Fox Pitt-Rivers, a pioneer archaeologist and keen collector, donated his collection of over 26,000 archaeological and ethnographic objects to the University. Today, the Museum is home to more than 700,000 objects and archival artefacts and welcomes around half a million visitors a year.
The collections are of extraordinary range and depth, comprising objects of historical, social and ritual significance, with works of art, technology, invention and design from all around the world. Unlike other ethnographic museums, the Pitt Rivers Museum exhibits its collections according to type, rather than by geographical area or time period. The Museum is used for teaching learners of all ages, not just students at the University, and carries out world-leading conservation and research. It is known for its innovative public programmes and collaborative work with both local communities and those from where the collections originate.
The Museum is loved by many and is widely regarded as one of the best of its kind. It is also a contested space that calls for innovative curation to engage with the more problematic aspects of its history. Rooted in Britain’s colonial past, it can be a difficult place for people to visit. Our work today focuses on inclusivity, working closely with communities and co-curating with cultural and academic leaders.
In an increasingly divided world and with so many people from so many communities, countries and backgrounds visiting, we want to be a place of personal relevance to every visitor. We want to be a place that inspires people to find new ways to look at things, new ways of thinking about things but also a space which cares for people as well as things
The Museum for Islamic Art in the Pergamon Museum Berlin is the only institution of its kind in Germany, the oldest outside the Islamic World (founded 1904) and with its 100,000 pieces counts as one of the major collections of Islamic Art worldwide. Architectural elements is one of the main attractions, like the monumental façade of the caliphal palace of Mshatta/Jordan, dating from the mid-8th century (the largest and one of the most important artefact of Islamic Art in any museum worldwide), archaeological finds from the caliphal cities, the famous Aleppo Room or the unique cupola from the Alhambra.
The Pergamon Museum on Museum Island is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Every year up to 1,000,000 visitors go to see Islamic Art. With its rich art and archaeological collection, the Museum is one of the leading research institutions dedicated to the material culture of the Middle East and neighbouring regions. The institution houses important collections of archival photographs on Islamic art and architecture as well as an internationally outstanding library focused on art, architecture and archaeology in the world of Islam.
Within the Pergamon Museum the collections of Islamic Art will cover in 2027 a new exhibition space of about 3,000 sqm – thus claiming to be the largest museum of its kind. The layout and concept will discover new and innovative ways to present the cultural legacy of Muslim societies to an international audience. With its education projects in hundreds of schools, clubs and social organisations the museum takes a leading role on culture education on Art and Culture of Islamic societies. Its program “Multaka” on refugees as guides in several Berlin museums won several awards
Our mission is to further mutual understanding between the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and the United States by producing academic research on MENA-U.S. cultural and political interactions, and by promoting superior education on MENA-U.S. relations for AUC students. CASAR facilitates dialogue on issues involving Egypt, the MENA region, the United States and the world. The center also runs an active public outreach program that includes student trips, media programs, public conferences and colloquia with Egyptian universities.
After the 2011 Arab uprisings, the MENA region remains in need of human and economic development. Due to the central political and economic role the United States plays in the MENA region, a more sophisticated understanding of American history and culture remains essential to international engagement in both the private and public sectors. The contribution of scholars working in the MENA region to the detailed and judicious study of the United States will be essential to this engagement. Knowledge of American cultural motifs and historical themes may afford students additional venues and methods for a variety of future careers. Mastery of issues related to American culture and history is valuable to students studying in a range of fields, including history, arts, finance, marketing, economics, English, journalism, sociology and anthropology. It is our belief that American studies can also assist students who aspire to work in the international private sector since familiarity with American history and workplace culture is highly valued by employers
The Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre of Islamic Studies is at the forefront of research and public engagement on the role of Islam in wider society. Working with partners across the University of Cambridge and beyond, from academic institutes to civil society organisations and the government, the Centre strives to enrich public debate and knowledge through rigorous and innovative research projects about Islam in the current global age.
The Centre’s commitment to high-quality research and public outreach builds on a well-established foundation at Cambridge. It was established in 2008 as the successor to the Centre of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, which was founded in 1960 by Professor Arthur Arberry. That Centre fostered an interest in the Middle East and in Islam among generations of Cambridge scholars, students and the broader public.
The Centre of Islamic Studies is firmly rooted in this twin tradition of research and public engagement. Supported by a generous donation from Alwaleed Philanthropies, it is committed to translating its research into informative outreach initiatives to policy makers and the public, and makes all of its publications available online to download for free.
The Centre supports between two and four post-doctoral research associates whose research ranges widely across topics relevant to the Centre’s remit. We are proud that our researchers all have outreach firmly embedded in their day to day work – whether this is through educating people about varied aspects of Islam, helping organisations like the hospice movement to improve their knowledge and understanding of Muslims or helping to steer government policy in regard of the criminal justice or adoption systems. We have a dedicated research associate studying and teaching about Islamic art – and this has led to superb exhibitions of art in recent years.
The Centre’s other initiatives include contributions to University of Cambridge PhD and MPhil studentships; annual symposia of postgraduate work on Islam in the UK and Europe; educational outreach to schools; regular seminars on current affairs in the Middle East; an annual research conference on an aspect of Islamic studies; and the provision of Arabic teaching to graduate and undergraduate students across the University of Cambridge whose research interests include the Arab and Islamic world. Previous work includes a project on “contextualising Islam in Britain” which won plaudits from the House of Commons culture committee; a research project on anti-Muslim hate crime; and reports on conversion to Islam which generated considerable public and media interest
The Edinburgh Alwaleed Centre is committed to encouraging a better understanding of Islam and the contemporary Muslim world through ground-breaking research, dynamic teaching and innovative outreach projects.
Based in the University of Edinburgh's School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures and affiliated to the Department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, the Alwaleed Centre is interdisciplinary, connecting different schools and subject areas across the University of Edinburgh through its focus on contemporary Islam and the Muslim world.
Alongside its world-class research and teaching, the Alwaleed Centre has developed a global reputation for delivering high-impact outreach projects, promoting a better understanding of Islam and Muslim culture locally, nationally and internationally.
The six key objectives of the Edinburgh Alwaleed Centre are:
The Edinburgh Alwaleed Centre is home to a growing team of scholars and professional staff whose expertise cover Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South and Southeast Asia.
The Centre is led by its Director, Professor Frederic Volpi, and its Deputy Directors Dr Kholoud Al-Ajarma and Dr Ewan Stein
The Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding (ACMCU) is internationally recognized as a leader in the study of Islam and Muslim-Christian relations and to promote understanding and relations between Muslim and Christian communities globally. The Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding: History and International Affairs, was founded in 1993 at Georgetown University in the Walsh School of Foreign Service with the support for many years of Hasib Sabbagh and the Foundation for Christian-Muslim Understanding in Geneva. The Center was renamed in 2005 and supported by following a generous endowment from Alwaleed Philanthropies that has guaranteed the permanent existence of the Center and has enabled us to significantly expand our activities.
The Alwaleed Center’s mission is twofold: to build bridges of mutual understanding between the Muslim world and the West and to enhance understanding of Muslims in the West. ACMCU’s activities are designed to address stereotypes of Islam, warnings of a clash of civilizations and document Islamophobia globally, as well as engage questions regarding the compatibility of Islam and modern life: from democratization, pluralism, to the status of women, minorities, and human rights. We achieve our mission through a combination of rigorous scholarship and frequent publications (books, articles, use of the internet and blogging), a wide-ranging academic curriculum that contributes to the training of the next generation, conferences and seminars held at Georgetown and internationally, and public outreach and training of teachers.
ACMCU faculty have taught courses in The Study of Islam and Muslim-Christian Relations, Islam & the West, Religion and International Affairs, Religion & Violence; Gender, Culture and Islam, Shariah and its Discontents, The Islamic World, Islam and Democracy, Makers of Contemporary Islam, Islam & Politics. The Future of Islam, Democracy and Global Terrorism, Intercivilizational Dialogue in Southeast Asia, Islamic political and social movements. They have published hundreds of books and articles translated and published in more than 55 languages as well as Editor-in Chief of Oxford University Press’ encyclopedias on the Islamic world and Islamic Law and other reference works. Faculty have also spoken at venues around the world and served as consultants to government leaders, diplomats, policymakers, corporate executives, and members of the media.
The Center has organized more than a thousand conferences, panels, and workshops and hosted fellows and researchers from Australia, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, China, Japan, Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Romania, Spain, Sweden, England, France, and Germany. Center faculty have served as president of the American Academy of Religion, Middle East Studies Association and serve on the boards of international organizations and scholarly journals.
ACMCU faculty have been elected and served as presidents of the Middle East Studies Association and the American Academy of Religion and Have been among the leaders in international initiatives including the World Economic Forum’s Council of 100 Leaders the UN Alliance of Civilizations, and The Common Word project between major Muslim and Christian religious leaders
The Alwaleed Islamic Studies Program at Harvard University promotes the scholarly study of Islam and Muslim societies on an interdisciplinary, global basis. It was founded in 2006 with the support of a gift from Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Alsaud to Harvard University to promote the study of Islam and intercultural understanding. Prince Alwaleed’s gift also endowed four professorships in Islamic studies, which are held by David Roxburgh, Alwaleed Professor of Islamic Art History; Malika Zeghal, Alwaleed Professor in Contemporary Islamic Through and Life; Ousmane Kane, Alwaleed Professor in Contemporary Islamic Religion and Society; and Teren Sevea, Alwaleed Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies. The gift also supports stipends for graduate students in Islamic studies and the digitization of Islamic manuscripts through the Islamic Heritage Project.
While the study of islam has a long history at Harvard, as documented in our history timeline, and spans many departments and centers, the Alwaleed Program serves as a central institutional home promoting Islamic studies across the University. The Alwaleed Program’s initiatives include the Alwaleed bin Talal Seminar in Islamic Studies, a monthly seminar through which leading scholars present their new research in a range of disciplines and subjects; Research Methods in Islamic Studies Workshop, a bi-annual workshop that supports students and visiting fellows in navigating Harvard’s vast Islamic studies library resources and exploring methodological questions; Early-Career Faculty Grants, which support Islamic studies faculty in conducting cutting-edge research; and Alwaleed bin Talal Undergraduate Thesis and Ph.D. Dissertation Prizes, which recognize outstanding scholarship produced by Harvard undergraduate and Ph.D. students in Islamic studies. The Alwaleed Program also explores new developments in Islamic studies at and beyond Harvard and shares them with a public audience through the Harvard Islamica Podcast
