Britain’s higher-education minister announced today that Islamic studies would be accorded “strategic” importance at English universities, reflecting a recognition that it is in the “national interest” to safeguard “research and/or the supply of graduates with the right knowledge and skills.”

The announcement was in response to a government-commissioned report written by Ataullah Siddiqui, an academic who is affiliated with the University of Leicester. In “Islam at Universities in England: Meeting the Needs and Investing in the Future,” Mr. Siddiqui said there was a growing consensus that “universities, through their different departments which teach the study of Islam and Muslim societies, are not addressing the subject matter properly or meeting the growing number of Muslims students.” Mr. Siddiqui’s recommendations include requiring all universities to provide Muslim chaplains and advisers for students.

Universities U.K., the umbrella organization for university vice chancellors, said the report “provides some useful material on Islamic studies,” but cautioned that “it will be for the relevant academic community to debate any future changes to the teaching of Islamic studies.”

The government announcement and the publication of the Siddiqui report came as Prime Minister Tony Blair delivered a speech at the opening of a two-day conference on Islam in London sponsored by the University of Cambridge. He said Britain needs more domestically trained imams and religious leaders and pledged £1-million to bolster Islamic studies at universities. —Aisha Labi