The Role of Faculty Members at the Islamic Colleges in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Promoting the Islamic Identity among the Muslims of this Country in a Multicultural Society (Field Study)

Abstract:
The current study aimed at exploring the role of faculty members at the Islamic colleges in the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina in promoting the Islamic identity among the Muslims of this country in a multicultural society. The study was conducted on a sample of the faculty members and their students of the three Islamic colleges in Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely: College of Islamic Sciences in Sarajevo, College of Islamic Education in Zenica, and College of Islamic Education in Bihac, in the second semester of the university year (2018/2019). The study utilized the descriptive method and administrated a questionnaire measuring the role of faculty members in promoting the islamic identity (from their point of views and their students). The results  revealed that the faculty members of the Islamic colleges in Bosnia and Herzegovina have played the predefined role in promoting the Islamic identity of the Muslims of this country, with a moderate degree on the overall dimensions of the questionnaire which were prioritized as follows: promoting the Islamic identity related to teaching, followed by the Islamic identity related to the community service, and finally the Islamic identity related to the scientific research.The study recommends that the Arabic language teaching centers in the Arab countries  should collaborate with the Department of Arabic Language at the Faculty of Islamic Education, University of Zenica, and provide the materials and scientific support to fulfill the prospect role in promoting the Islamic identity, and enhance the academic subjects contents that discuss the issue of Islamic identity.