Germany’s Münster University has established Europe’s first independent Islamic theology faculty at a public university. The faculty will be part of the under-construction Campus of Religions, which will also house Catholic and Protestant theology departments. The campus, located in the western German city of Münster, is scheduled to open in 2027, according to a report by Deutsche Welle.

Founding dean Mohanad Khorchide described the initiative as a historic milestone and expressed gratitude for being part of it. Formerly head of the university’s Center for Islamic Theology, Khorchide said the new faculty will promote a liberal and enlightened interpretation of Islam and will be able to grant its own PhD and research degrees. The faculty’s policies emphasize compatibility between Islam and democracy, contemporary Quranic interpretation, and interfaith dialogue, while opposing extremism and antisemitism.

The university expects the number of students to exceed 500 in the coming years. A new master’s program titled “Islam and Social Work” is planned for 2027 to train professionals for youth services, hospitals, and elder care. Officials and academics have called the initiative a milestone for academic theology in Europe.