Professor Fouzia Farooq tells TORCH about her experience as the 2024-25 Global Visiting Professor in an interview:
"My experience as the TORCH-All Souls Global Visiting Professor has been profoundly enriching, both intellectually and professionally. The opportunity to immerse myself in Oxford’s vibrant academic environment, and to present my work within such a distinguished setting, has been an exceptionally rewarding experience. I feel deeply privileged that TORCH afforded me this platform, allowing my voice to be heard and my research to be shared with such a discerning audience.
The feedback I received, particularly from Professor Christine, has been invaluable. Her insights were not only constructive but offered a great opportunity for me to refine my work and avoid some of the immediate pitfalls that often accompany presentations. As an academic, I have been grateful for her encouragement, as well as for the broader feedback from the community, which has significantly boosted my confidence in my work.
Engaging in the exchange of ideas with leading scholars and contributing to interdisciplinary conversations has been deeply fulfilling. Being a professor from the Global South provided me with the opportunity to connect with scholars across diverse fields, which has been enriching both for my intellectual development and for the establishment of new professional networks. I was also celebrated as a Global South visiting professor in my home country, where this fellowship was widely recognized and lauded. My selection was covered by both print media and television, and several social media platforms and podcasts highlighted it as an honor, adding to the visibility of my work.
It was also a privilege to host scholars and students at the delightful All Souls College lunches, dinners, and teas, where the conversations provided a fertile ground for new ideas, characters, and situations for my novel. These exchanges allowed me to view reality from a refreshingly different perspective, which will undoubtedly shape my writing going forward.
Throughout my career, I have had regular public engagements, including lectures, seminars, and appearances on television and social media. I am a moderately well-known academic, social worker and writer, and these public engagements have helped me to maintain a connection with a wider audience, both in my home country and internationally. The professorship allowed me to build upon this platform, adding to the sense of recognition that comes with such an esteemed position.
The professorship has granted me invaluable time and space for reflection, enabling me to refine my research while exploring new intellectual directions. I have particularly appreciated the access to Oxford’s exceptional libraries, archives, and research centres, which have greatly enhanced the depth and breadth of my work. The collegiality and generosity of the academic community have fostered meaningful dialogues that transcended my immediate field of expertise, and I am deeply grateful for this.
The structure of the professorship allowed me to pursue my independent research while simultaneously benefiting from Oxford’s extensive resources and networks, which has been an unparalleled privilege. This experience has been one of the most intellectually stimulating periods of my career, and I leave Oxford with new perspectives and insights that will shape my work for years to come."
Professor Fouzia Farooq has returned to Oxford January 2025 as a Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.
