The Centre for Islamic Thought and Education (CITE), School of Education, UniSA recently held a symposium themed: Culturally Responsive Pedagogy and Muslim Learners in Australian Classrooms. The symposium led by Dr Nadeem Memon and Mr Dylan Chown in collaboration with Professor Rob Hattam and Professor Lester Irabinna Rigney was held at Mawson Lakes Campus on the 11th of October. The symposium attracted interest from a diverse group of stakeholders. Colleagues from UniSA’s School of Education, executive members of the SA Teacher Registration Board, members of UniSA College and UniSA on-line, representatives from Catholic Education SA and classroom educators from a range of state and private schools in Adelaide. The symposium explored key complexities associated with the diversities of Muslim learners, examined responsive approaches, and sought to understand further professional learning supports educators require. The symposium relates to a key focus within CITE in terms of research and teaching, relating to culturally and religiously responsive pedagogy for Muslim learners. This research, in an era of heightened discrimination of Muslim peoples and marginalization of Muslim learners in educational settings seeks to assist educators in the knowledge of pedagogical strategies responsive to the learning strengths and needs of diverse Australian Muslim learners. Through research and teaching CITE strives to educate and engage with communities across Australia.
