The “brand” Islamic: Challenges and opportunities for communications

Abstract: 

This article considers religious branding, in particular, the Islamic “brand” at Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU). In this study, we explore the application of marketing and branding concepts to Islamized products. This study reports on the on perceptions of IUIU’s brand and identity. The findings show that the Islamic University in Uganda has a very strong brand equity and high levels of brand loyalty among its members, although conventional marketing language should be avoided due to the sensitivities involved. The findings suggest that IUIU could usefully be regarded as a “brand community,” akin in many key respects to brand communities in the commercial sphere. It recommends that IUIU communications could be enhanced by leveraging the brand more effectively as within a true “brand community” for the purpose of encouraging brand loyalty and energizing Islamic community.