United College bridges distances through diverse Islamic cultural activities
13 May 2026
While many may be familiar with Islam, true understanding often remains elusive. Fragmented information and deeply rooted stereotypes can easily lead to misunderstandings. To foster students’ appreciation of another religion and culture, United College launched a series of activities under the theme “Understanding Islam”. Through College Assemblies and experiential learning, students were guided to reflect on their preconceptions and develop a more comprehensive picture.
On 16 January, Professor James Frankel, Associate Professor in the Department of Cultural and Religious Studies and Director of CUHK’s Centre for the Study of Islamic Culture, delivered the College Assembly “Islam and Cultural Intelligence”. Adopting a humorous, engaging approach, Professor Frankel suddenly appeared on stage wearing a thawb, an Arabian-style robe, leading into a discussion of the cultural significance of religious attire. Through thought-provoking questions, he encouraged students to reflect on society’s preconceived notions of Muslims. The talk emphasised that Islam upholds universal values such as empathy, family responsibility, integrity and justice, encouraging students to move beyond stereotypes.
Building on the event, the College’s Committee on Inclusive Excellence organised an Islamic Cultural Experience Day on 23 March. Students visited the Kowloon Mosque to learn about Islamic rituals and the mosque’s role within the community, followed by a visit to halal meat stalls to understand the religious and ethical principles underpinning Islamic dietary practices. The activity concluded with a shared dinner, during which students were introduced to Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, fasting practices during that period and their cultural significance, highlighting values of self-reflection, sharing and community bonding.
By combining theoretical reflection with first-hand cultural experiences, the activities provided students with a more complete picture of Islam, demonstrating United College’s commitment to diversity, inclusion and cross-cultural learning.
