Centre establishment plans
The University of South Australia's Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences is proceeding over 2009-10 to establish this internationally significant research centre which will be devoted to understanding and transcending the divide between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds.
The Centre will be a unique forum in which scholars develop and
share ideas within the framework of a broader social justice agenda.
It will have a strong socio-cultural focus and will foster
harmonious relationships between what increasingly seem to be
disparate worlds.
The Centre will:
- probe the basis of tensions between Muslim and non-Muslim worlds including the role of the media, with a socio-cultural rather than exclusively religious focus
- examine and propose ways of diffusing tensions and ameliorating relationships at the political, civil and social level both in Australia and internationally
- identify and analyse effective rapprochement and intellectual bridge-building within a global context informed by sound principles of social justice
- contribute to understanding of Muslim and non-Muslim relations in Australia’s domestic multi-cultural context
- build on the University of South Australia's commitment to reconciliation.
Launch of the new Centre
Launch of the International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding, 14 October 2008 at the University of South Australia
From L - R
Professor Pal Ahluwalia, Pro Vice Chancellor UniSA and UNESCO Chair
Ms Elizabeth Ho, Executive Director, The Hawke Centre UniSA
The Hon Mike Rann, Premier of South Australia
The Hon Bob Hawke, Former Prime Minister of Australia
Dr Musimbi Kanyoro, Director (Population), The Packard Foundation
Professor Peter Høj, Vice Chancellor UniSA
Dr Anna Ciccarelli, Pro Vice Chancellor, International UniSA