President Bashar al-Assad on Monday issued the Legislative Decree No. 48 stipulating the establishment of al-Cham Higher Institute for Religious Science, Arabic Language and Islamic Studies and Research.
The Institute will be affiliated with the Minister of Endowments (Awqaf) and its headquarters will be located in Damascus. It will consist of three branches: Al Fatih Islamic Institute, Sheikh Ahmad Kuftaro Foundation and Sayyida Ruqayya Foundation, with each branch containing several faculties.
The Institute will offer bachelor's, master's and PhD degrees to students who wish to pursue higher education in the field of Islamic and Arabic studies.
Caretaker Minister of Endowments (Awqaf) Mohammad Abdul-Sattar al-Sayyed told SANA that establishing al-Cham Higher Institute for Religious Science, Arabic Language and Islamic Studies and Research meet the aspirations of students and contributes to developing the situation of al-Fateh al-Islami, Sheikh Ahmad Kaftaro and Sayyida Ruqayya Complexes.
He pointed out that the Institute is the first of its kind in Syria.
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2011
