News

Applications are now open for the Annemarie Schimmel Fellowship, a £10,000 award offered by The Institute of Ismaili Studies to support research in fields such as Islamic mysticism, Persian and South Asian literature, and Muslim devotional traditions. The deadline for applications is 30 September 2026.

The Institute of Ismaili Studies hosted the launch of A Practical Guide to Critical Religion, bringing together leading scholars to explore how categories such as “religion” and “the secular” shape scholarship, governance, and public life.

STEP students reflect on how their London-based training is shaping classroom practice during field teaching placements in Syria, Pakistan, India and beyond.

A collaborative module between UCL IoE and IIS brought together students from 17 countries to explore education, justice and global challenges.

IIS celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2026 at the Ismaili Centre, London, marking the graduation of GPISH and STEP students and recognising academic excellence through dissertation prizes.

IIS hosted the two-day Elemental conference at the Aga Khan Centre, bringing together scholars and practitioners to explore Ismaili perspectives on the natural elements, environmental ethics and contemporary climate challenges.

Dr Daryoush Mohammad Poor engaged with universities and Ismaili communities across Canada in early 2026, delivering lectures, participating in an international AI research sandpit in Montreal, and leading outreach sessions in Vancouver and Edmonton.

For Women’s History Month, the IIS Oral History Project highlights the life of Vazir Saheba Hajjan Ghulam Fatimah of Gujranwala, whose dedication to girls’ education helped establish a school that continues to serve generations.

Dr Tatiana Korneeva joined IIS as a Visiting Research Fellow to study the Ismaili Imamate and the philosophy of Nasir Khusraw. Her fellowship included lectures, research on rare manuscripts, and engagement with academic and community audiences.

Dr Shainool Jiwa delivered the keynote address at an iftar gathering in Nairobi on 28 February 2026, reflecting on cosmopolitan ethics, shared responsibility, and social harmony in a diverse world.