Damir Mukhetdinov, first deputy chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, principal of the Moscow Islamic Institute, director of the Center for Islamic Studies of St. Petersburg State University, met with Prof. Dr. Michael Botgolte, director of the Berlin Institute of Islamic Theology. The meeting was also attended by employees of the Institute Prof. Serdar Kurnaz, Prof. Mira Chivers and Muhammad Haraibeh.

During the meeting Damir Mukhetdinov informed his German colleagues about the presidential program for training specialists with an emphasis on the history and culture of Islam and spoke about the radical changes that took place in the field of Islamic education and the development of Islamic theology.

The representatives of the Berlin Institute of Islamic Theology noted that the institute had just opened and was not even fully staffed yet. “You have vast experience related to the development of Islamic education,” said Professor Michael Borgolte and expressed his willingness to cooperate in the exchange of academic staff, students, as well as in the field of publishing academic works and conducting different academic and educational events.

The parties agreed on the preparation of bilateral projects and scheduled the signing of a memorandum of cooperation for the next year.

At the end of the meeting, Damir Mukhetdinov invited representatives of the Berlin Institute of Islamic Theology to visit the Moscow Islamic Institute, the Center for Islamic Studies of St. Petersburg State University and the Bolgar Islamic Academy.