AAISC9: Islamic School Renewal: Tarbiyah of the Educator and the Inward Turn Toward Outward Impact

9th Annual Australian Islamic Schooling Conference

PLEASE NOTE CONCURRENT SESSIONS ARE FREE TO PAID PARTICIPANTS

At the heart of meaningful renewal in Islamic schooling lies tarbiyah, a holistic and lifelong process of human formation that nurtures the physical, spiritual, and intellectual dimensions of the human being. More than a pedagogical approach, tarbiyah offers an integrative framework through which knowledge, purpose, and practice are cultivated within an Islamic worldview.

This year’s 9th Islamic Schooling Conference places a deliberate focus on the tarbiyah of the educator, recognising that lasting renewal does not begin with programs, policies, or structures, but with the inward formation, outward character, and moral example of those entrusted with teaching and leadership. This emphasis shapes every aspect of schooling, from classroom practice and curriculum to leadership and school culture.

Within the broader framework of tarbiyah, taʿdīb (outward character refinement), taʿlīm (knowledge transmission), tadrīs (systematic and structured instruction), and tazkiyah (inward refinement) operate in synergy. When these elements are integrated rather than fragmented, education becomes coherent, purposeful, and transformative. Tarbiyah is therefore not merely a collection of techniques, but a formative ecosystem in which intellectual, spiritual, ethical, and physical development unfold together.

By centring the inward-to-outward trajectory of tarbiyah, the conference invites educators and leaders to reflect on who they are becoming, not only what they are implementing. When educators experience tarbiyah in their own lives, their inner transformation becomes the most powerful catalyst for renewed classrooms, coherent leadership, meaningful curriculum, and flourishing school communities. This is at the heart of tajdīd (renewal) in Islamic schools.

Bringing together scholars, school leaders, teachers, researchers, policymakers, parents, and community partners, the conference offers a shared space to reimagine Islamic education through its primary and purposeful aims. It is an invitation to place the formation of the educator at the heart of Islamic schooling renewal, and to re-anchor teaching and learning in the purposes for which knowledge exists.

Please email cite@adelaide.edu.au for an invoice

Conference Venue

Saturday 15 August 2026 - Opening and Welcome to be held in Bonython Hall, Adelaide University, North Terrace

Remaining of the conference will be held in Barr Smith South Flentje Lecture Theatre

Hotels/ Accommodations

1. Pullman Hotel and Residence, 16 Hindmarsh Square 5000 Adelaide.

As a AAISC9 2026 traveller, you have the privilege to benefit from a preferential offer.

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1. Crowne Plaza Adelaide by IHG, 27 Frome St, Adelaide SA 5000

2. Stamford Plaza Adelaide, 150 North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000

3. Peppers Waymouth Adelaide, 55 Waymouth Street, Adelaide SA 5000

4. Mantra Adelaide Central, 82 King William Street, Adelaide 5000

PLATINUM EXHIBITORS

Islamic Relief Australia, a member of the Islamic Relief family operating in over 40 countries worldwide, is a humanitarian aid and development organisation committed to saving lives and building resilience in the world's most vulnerable communities. Islamic Relief has touched, changed and the transformed the lives of over 130 million people since 1984. Operating across disaster relief, food security, orphan sponsorship, clean water, and long-term development programs, Islamic Relief delivers dignified, impactful assistance regardless of race, religion, or background. Trusted by over 50,000 donors across Australia, every contribution is channelled into sustainable change, locally and globally, guided by the values of Amanah, Mercy, Compassion, Justice, and Excellence. https://islamicrelief.org.au/

5 Before 5 Solutions is a youth development and educational consultancy organisation dedicated to empowering young people, educators, schools, and communities through mentoring, wellbeing programs, workshops, counselling, and strategic support. Grounded in purposeful growth and meaningful impact, their work focuses on building resilience, leadership, character, and positive community engagement. Through tailored programs and practical solutions, 5 Before 5 Solutions helps individuals and organisations create environments where young people can thrive and reach their full potential. www.5before5solutions.com.au

Al Salam Humanitarian Foundation fosters a flourishing, connected South Australian community. Guided by core Islamic values of Purity (Zakat), Empathy (Sadaqah), and Empowerment, this "For Local by Local" initiative drives social and economic prosperity. Your contributions provide vital financial assistance to vulnerable individuals, fund educational institutes for future generations, and support religious programming. Together, we can uplift our society, eradicate poverty, and help one another truly thrive. https://islamicsocietysa.org.au/al-salam-humanitarian-foundation-ahf/

GOLD EXHIBITORS

Compass is the trusted school management system for over 5,000 schools and 5 million users. Our integrated portal and app connects staff, parents and students in one seamless system - with 50+ tools covering attendance, wellbeing, payments, communication and more.

 
Our Australian onboarding, training and support teams ensure lasting improvements for every school. Compass.eduation

The Islamic Schools Association of Australia (ISAA) is the national peak body for Islamic schools in Australia.  ISAA promotes excellence in Islamic schooling through advocacy, professional collaboration, leadership development, research, and the sharing of best practice among member schools.  Through initiatives such as national conferences, leadership retreats and professional learning programmes, ISAA fosters a strong network of educators and leaders committed to academic excellence, informed by an Islamic worldview, to make positive contributions to Australian society.

SILVER EXHIBITORS

Renaissance and GL Education support schools to see the whole student. From literacy growth and reading engagement to cognitive ability, wellbeing and attainment, our evidence-based assessments and learning solutions provide actionable insights that help teachers personalise learning, drive progress and build confident, capable learners across every stage of education. Renaissance.com.au

MCCA is Australia’s leading Islamic finance and investments provider. Since 1989, MCCA has facilitated over $4 billion in mortgage contracts, manages $100+ million in community investments, empowered 10,000+ households and businesses, financed 65+ masjids and schools, and contributed over $3 million to community and charitable initiatives for Australian Muslim communities. www.mcca.com.au

Amana OSHC delivers trusted, values-based Before and After School Care and Vacation Care across NSW and Victoria — Beyond The Bell. Rooted in Islamic values and NQS-aligned quality, we partner with schools as genuine stakeholders. As we grow nationally, we'd welcome a conversation about partnering with your school.

Hatun Cafe - 32 James Place, Adelaide (Turkish)

Warong - Lower Ground, 77-91 Rundle Mall, Adelaide (Malaysin - Indonesian Street Food)

Abang Abang Indonesian Eatery - 230 North Terrace, Adelaide (Asian)

Urumqi Uyghur Cuisine - 3/31-39 Gouger Street, Adelaide (Uyghur Cuisine)

1915 Lanzhou Beef Noodles - 81 Gouger Street, Adelaide (Asian Food)

Sub-Themes

1. Understanding Tarbiyah: Meaning, Scope, and Centrality in Islamic Schooling

• Linguistic, Qurʾānic, and classical roots of tarbiyah.

• Tarbiyah as an overarching, holistic framework integrating taʿlīm, tadrīs, and taʾdīb

• Tarbiyah as the purposive aim guiding curriculum, leadership, and schooling

2. The Murabbī: Inward Formation as the Foundation of Educational Impact

• The educator’s spiritual, moral, intellectual, and volitional formation

• Tazkiyah, self-discipline, and ethical self-cultivation as prerequisites for teaching

• How the inward life of the educator shapes learners’ formation

• Teacher identity, educator wellbeing, and the amanah of nurturing fiṭrah

3. Tarbiyah-Informed Purpose: Re-articulating the Aims of Islamic Schooling

• Clarifying ghāyāt (primary aims) vs wasāʾil (instrumental aims)

• How tarbiyah shapes vision, mission, philosophy, and school coherence

• Aligning policies, governance, and culture with tarbiyah’s holistic ethos

4. Curriculum as Tarbiyah: Designing for Holistic Human Development

• Curriculum that nurtures the spiritual, intellectual, physical, and moral dimensions

• The place of Qurʾān, Arabic, and Islamic Studies within a tarbiyah framework

• Moving from fragmented curriculum to coherent tarbiyah-led design

5. Tarbiyah-Based Pedagogy: Teaching Rooted in Islamic Epistemology

• Reconnecting pedagogical practice to Islamic understandings of knowledge

• Teaching as an act of moral-spiritual formation, not only instruction

• Dialogical learning, intellectual humility, adab, and inquiry

• Classroom practices that embody compassion, justice, and ihsān.

6. Assessment Through the Lens of Tarbiyah

• Rethinking success: assessing growth of the whole human being

• Holistic, formative, and character-sensitive assessment models

• Developing learner profiles aligned to tarbiyah

• Moving past reductive academic measurement toward meaningful evidence of flourishing

7. Leadership as Tarbiyah: Forming Leaders Who Form Others

• Leadership as an inward journey of amanah, sincerity, and ethical clarity

• Tarbiyah-informed decision-making and strategic planning

• Aligning governance, culture, and systems with purposive aims

• Creating schools of coherence, integrity, and ihsān

8. Building a Tarbiyah-Centred Educator Culture and Professional Pathways

• Islamic teacher education grounded in tarbiyah (beyond technique and training)

• Communities of practice that nurture spiritual, intellectual, and ethical growth

• Coaching, mentoring, and sustaining a culture of reflective murabbiyyīn

9. Tarbiyah Beyond the Classroom: Families, Community, and Society

• Home–school partnerships as shared tarbiyah ecosystems

• Community engagement that strengthens identity, purpose, and belonging

• Tarbiyah as a driver for social responsibility and public contribution

10. Research, Innovation, and the Future of Tarbiyah in Islamic Schooling

• Emerging scholarship on tarbiyah and Islamic educational philosophy

• Evidence-informed renewal: action research, case studies, and school innovations

• Navigating AI, digital life, and modernity through tarbiyah-grounded ethics

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