From January 24 to 29, 2026, the IKI Academy Winter School was held in Bishkek, bringing together researchers and educators from CIS countries and Türkiye. The event was supported by the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) and became an important platform for professional dialogue and methodological renewal in the field of Islamic studies.

Over the course of six days, participants from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Türkiye engaged with contemporary approaches to teaching and research in Islamic sciences. The main objective of the school was to explore the Integration of Knowledge (IOK) methodology – an approach that connects traditional Islamic disciplines with modern social sciences.

From Theory to Practice

A distinctive feature of the program was its transdisciplinary nature. Lectures were combined with practical workshops, where participants developed their own research ideas.

Key focus areas included:

• integration of Maqasid al-Shari‘ah into contemporary Islamic law;
• challenges in studying Islamic history and civilization;
• Postnormal Times theory and futures studies;
• Islamic psychology and culturally sensitive counseling;
• application of generative AI in Islamic education;
• rethinking Islamic social sciences.

Special emphasis was placed on the practical use of strategic thinking and foresight tools within academic contexts.

Active Research Engagement

The Winter School was marked by a high level of participant involvement. Attendees were divided into working groups and presented projects on relevant contemporary topics, including:

• the role of observing nature in nurturing the Islamic worldview;
• causes and consequences of radicalization;
• historical reform movements and their relevance today;
• analysis of Islamic media content for children;
• representation of women’s status in Islamic textbooks;
• ethical challenges posed by modern technologies.

Thus, the program served not only as an educational initiative but also as a dynamic research platform.

Key Outcomes and Future Initiatives

One of the main outcomes was the formation of a sustainable network of emerging and established scholars ready to apply the IOK methodology in their universities and institutions.

Future plans include:

• development of educational materials for schools and madrasas in the Russian language;
• launching specialized tracks in Islamic psychology and Islamic economics;
• establishing an alumni community acting as IOK ambassadors in their respective countries.

Participants’ Reflections

Participants emphasized that the Integration of Knowledge approach helps overcome intellectual narrowness.

The Winter School in Bishkek was not merely an academic event, but a meaningful step toward cultivating a new generation of scholars capable of thinking systematically, strategically, and responsibly in a rapidly changing world.