Endorsements from within Australia and overseas
Nelson Mandela
Honorary Doctor of the University and international patron of
UniSA's Hawke Centre
Poverty, social injustice, ignorance, intolerance and lack of hope
are among the less well-understood enemies of peace in our world. It
is therefore very satisfying to see a place of learning - the
University of South Australia - wishing to develop an international
research centre devoted to building understanding between Muslim and
non-Muslim worlds. This is one of the issues of our times that must
be addressed if we are to embrace an ethical and harmonious future
and I respect the university for its foresight.
Kevin Rudd
Prime Minister of Australia
Our nation, our region and our world comprise a rich diversity of
cultures and religions. Understanding and intercultural respect are
paramount issues for our future. I commend the University of South
Australia for its commitment to developing a Centre of Excellence
that will concentrate on building positive relations between Muslim
and non-Muslim worlds, and I ask others to do all that they can to
support this aim.
Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi
Secretary General
All India Organization of Imams of Mosques
I have pleasure in commending the University of South Australia for
its efforts to build a better world through research, and
specifically through a Centre of Excellence that will concentrate on
building bridges between Muslim and non-Muslim worlds. This can only
assist all peoples across our globe to achieve greater harmony and
increase mutual respect.
Mike
Rann
Premier of South Australia
South Australia has long been recognised for its learning
excellence, and Adelaide's reputation as a 'university city'
continues to grow as it attracts greater numbers of international
students and researchers.
Likewise, our universities - and the Centres of Excellence that they foster - have made significant contributions to global knowledge and innovation for more than a century.
The University of South Australia - with its strong focus on social justice and intercultural and reconciliation issues - is ideally placed to develop and grow the new International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding.
This will become another centre of academic and cultural excellence of which South Australia can be justly proud.
The South Australian Government is strongly committed to multiculturalism, and supports this important and timely initiative to foster increased trust, tolerance and understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims in Australia, and throughout the world.