Nature of the Chair
The current Chair has an academic and scientific mission as it aims at promoting research, education and consulting in the field of conflict management through the promotion of education in dialogue and intercultural exchange. This mission is in perfect harmony with the principles and values of UNAOC and The EUROMED UNIVERSITY of Fez.
Scope of the Chair
The “Alliance of Civilizations” Chair aligns with the priorities of The EUROMED UNIVERSITY of Fez and UNAOC related to peace education by:
– Promoting intercultural dialogue.
– Spreading the culture of conflict resolution through wisdom and respect for international law.
– Dynamically reclaiming civilizational heritages to overcome obstacles (ethical and political) that prevent considering the sources of conflict from perspectives other than resorting to violence.
– Participating in consulting services and international expertise related to its field of activities. The Chair will conduct strategic studies and in-depth reports on behalf of public or private organizations, serving as vital decision-making tools within the framework of the Alliance of Civilizations.
General Objective of the Chair
The Chair aims at promoting, through multidisciplinary education and research, the development of scientifically valuable contributions in the field of conflict management related to the changes that contemporary societies and civilizations are undergoing.
The Chair also aspires, with the commitment of a community of renowned faculty researchers and thinkers, to foster and nurture in students a fresh perspective on humanity and the world that is impervious to any sectarian inclinations, which are often the root of extremism and ostracism. It promotes mutual respect for the diversity of perceptions and ideals and emphasizes the role of international law in defending the plurality of faiths, cultures, identities, and social specificities.
The Alliance of Civilizations Chair aims to be a thriving hub for research and debate on the pressing issues of our time. This choice, which prioritizes investment in the core values of humanistic knowledge in its dual scientific and heuristic dimensions, will serve as an appropriate lever to support the younger generations in their quest to confront destructive dogmas and address the challenges of the future. Through its close collaboration with UNAOC, this Chair will benefit from new opportunities in terms of experience, expertise, and innovation. As a result, it will be able to fulfill its mission, which will be regularly assessed, enhanced, and adapted.
Specific Objectives of the Chair:
In strict compliance with the guideline texts of the Alliance of Civilizations and the EUROMED UNIVERSITY of Fez and the principles they articulate, the proposed Chair wants to contribute primarily to:
In terms of idea dissemination:
– Illuminate the intellectual currents (both in the East and the West) that throughout history have laid the foundations for a universal culture built on the spirit of cooperation, solidarity, and equality in exchanges between peoples.
– Raise awareness about the role of the United Nations and the Alliance of Civilizations in promoting possible paths toward the triumph of peace over war, tolerance over savagery, often used under the pretext of combating evil, and the rehabilitation of humanistic values over religious fanaticism.
In terms of practical action:
– Implement a diversified program dedicated to education and research around the key themes of the Chair.
– Involve researchers, writers, and thinkers (regardless of their disciplines) in contemplating the role of dialogue in liberating mindsets and overcoming inhibitory identities.
– Encourage the mobility of young researchers from all over the world to enrich their experiences, acquiring new skills, and gaining insights from different perspectives on intercultural dialogue and conflict management through the pathways of wisdom.
– Benefit from the international network of the EUROMED UNIVERSITY of Fez and UNAOC to develop best practice experiences, strengthen the achievements of various initiatives, and open up new avenues of international cooperation.
– Collaborate with different UNAOC entities to carry out research, study, consulting, expertise, scientific and cultural event organization, and exchange missions in the fields of evaluation and expertise.
– Reinforce cooperation ties with UNAOC to strengthen the capacities of the EUROMED UNIVERSITY of Fez in its positioning. as an institution of education and research focused on the adoption of values and virtues of cultural and religious dialogue, open to the Mediterranean and Africa.