Abstract:

In an increasingly globalized world, there are fewer barriers, whether legal, economic, or cultural to hinder interactions between different communities of the world. For example, in the heart of Europe live millions belonging to different cultures that in times past were enemies unable to live together. Today, with the development of the European Union, Europe enjoys unprecedented peace and prosperity.

However misunderstandings, and sometimes bad intentions and conflicts can and do affect relationships between different communities. This is the case in many places in the world, and is often the case between the Arabic/Islamic East and the West.

Despite the proliferation of schools, universities, international institutes and organizations in various parts of the world who have worked on these issues and problems, relations between nations and communities have not yet attained the higher degrees of peace and cooperation long hoped for.

Although Arabic and Islamic study departments exist in most Western and Eastern universities, the question that still presents itself in the minds of educators and public servants is how to energize these departments and the individuals within, to play a more constructive role in education, and the challenges of increasing cultural and population diversity and of globalization.

This paper will address the current major trends and challenges regarding the teaching of Islam and Arabic in both East and West. My intent is to move the educational process forward to play a more positive role in the issues being considered by this international conference. This will be accomplished by studying the experiences of Gust University for Science and Technology (GUST) and American Creativity Academy (ACA) in Kuwait as case studies.