Symposium announcement: “Dynamics of Family Life in Muslim Families with Migrant Background: Mapping Parenting Support Needs and Available Resources”

The symposium is organized by the Islamic Pedagogies and Education Research Network (ISPED) and financed by Utrecht University’s Youth Education & Life Skills platform. 

The goal is to bring together experts whose work centers on the family life of Muslims with a migrant background, focusing on identifying parenting support needs and the resources available to address these needs. Muslim families in Western countries face multifaceted challenges, including the intergenerational transmission of cultural and religious norms and values, a mismatch between the demand for and supply of culturally relevant education and parenting support, and broader questions of belonging, identity, and representation. However, research addressing the specific support needs of these families remains scarce, limiting the potential for evidence-based and context-informed parenting and family support programs. 

The symposium will feature two segments:
1.                  Expert Keynotes:
o        Prof.dr. Jonathan Scourfield (University of Cardiff), author of Muslim Childhood: Religious Nurture in a European Context
o        Dr. Joanne Britton (University of Sheffield), author of Understanding Muslim Family Life: Changing Relationships, Personal Life and Inequality
o        Dr. Semiha Bekir and Ouissam Abattouy, jointly presenting Muslims with Migrant Backgrounds in the Netherlands: Family Dynamics and Mosque-based Parenting Support 

2.                  Interactive Research-Idea Mapping Session:
An interactive session will provide opportunities for participants to share insights based on their experiences in research, social work, youth care, education, and parenting support. This session aims to strengthen dialogue and collaboration among academics, youth professionals, and educators, furthering ISPED’s commitment to fostering research-practice partnerships in Islamic pedagogies and education. 

Program Overview
12:30 – 13:00 | Collective Lunch
13:00 – 13:10 | Opening Remarks by Symposium Organizers
13:10 – 13:40 | Keynote: Prof. Jonathan Scourfield
13:40 – 14:10 | Keynote: Dr. Joanne Britton
14:10 – 14:40 | Keynotes: Dr. Semiha Bekir and Ouissam Abattouy
14:40 – 15:30 | Interactive Research-Idea Mapping Session
15:30 – 15:45 | Coffee & Cake Break
15:45 – 16:30 | Plenary Discussion of Insights 

Please note that the event will be held in English, though discussions during the interactive session may also take place in Dutch, depending on the composition of the group. 

Registration
Participants are asked to confirm their attendance by January 20, 2025, via this registration link.