Secretary General of the OIC calls for higher education reform at opening ceremony of ‘Belief in Dialogue’ conference
21 June 2011
His Excellency Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), called on Islamic countries to reform the higher education sector and increase their focus on science and technology, at the opening ceremony of the Middle East’s first Belief in Dialogue: ‘Science, Culture and Modernity’ conference, organised by the British Council and held under the patronage of Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and Founder and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS).
Professor Ihsanoglu urged member states of the OIC - an intergovernmental organisation comprising 57 states - to commit to becoming a community that values knowledge and is competent in advancing science and technology to enhance the socio-economic well-being of the Muslim world.
'With the advent of the 21st century, the position of Islam towards science has developed more in the direction of achieving advanced knowledge and know-how in a rather pragmatic way. The importance of scientific enterprise became more prominent and the need for excellence in research is felt in more advanced Muslim countries,' said Professor Ihsanoglu.
Professor Ihsanoglu added that 'from the perspective of the OIC, there is a need to reform the higher education sector and priority given to science and technology while emphasising the tolerant and moderate understanding of the religion of Islam. We have urged member states to strive for quality education that promotes creativity and innovation and to increase their expenditure of research and development.'
Professor Ihsanoglu personally proposed that the leading countries of the OIC should reach 1% of their expenditure of GDP on research and development. As a result of the OIC’s efforts average expenditure on research and development among member states has recently doubled - growing from 0.2% of GDP in 2005 to 0.41% of GDP today.
Professor Ihsanoglu’s speech opened the ‘Science, Culture and Modernity’ conference, organised as part of the British Council’s global Belief in Dialogue programme that explores how people all over the world can live peacefully amidst growing diversity. He travelled to Sharjah immediately from an official visit to the UK, where he had held meetings with Prime Minister David Cameron, and Foreign Secretary William Hague.
Patrick Brazier, British Council Regional Director Middle East and North Africa, addressed the opening ceremony on behalf of the British Council: 'It is important that the discussions that take place here in Sharjah do not end here. That is why we at the British Council, with our international networks, are committed to ensure that the dialogue continues.'
'We will be running further events in different places around the world. And with our partners from the BBC World Service, we will be making sure that the conversations continue, over the airwaves and over the internet.'
A debate hosted by the BBC World Service on Wednesday June 22nd is set to be a conference highlight and will invite a global audience to participate in the spirited exchange that will take place over the course of the event.
Dr. Peter Heath, Chancellor of American University of Sharjah, speaking at the opening ceremony said, 'It is an essential part of the mission of AUS, as with any great university, to offer opportunities for its own community and for members of the general public to consider, discuss, and investigate the great issues of the day.'
'In the region of the Middle East, there are certainly enough events occurring currently for us to observe and discuss. In many of the countries of North Africa and the Levant, historic social and political changes are taking place, changes whose nature and implications we still see unfolding. Whatever course such transformations take in countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen or Syria, the issues that this conference raises will still be of great relevance. In the long term, they may be even more pertinent than some of the short-term political tides that ebb and flow during the next few years.'
Dr. Mark Rush, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at AUS, said AUS and the UAE, provided an ideal venue to discuss themes of science, culture and modernity, 'The Middle East is at a crossroads. Throughout history, it has sat at the intersection, perhaps the fulcrum of three continents and global trade routes and countless civilizations. The mixing of cultures and thought has certainly caused division in the region.
'The themes and issues we will discuss over the next three days all address the intersection of science, religion, ethics, public policy and the extent to which the development and accumulation of more knowledge about these topics will promote common cause amidst diversity or simply fan the flames of disagreement and division.'
Over 40 of the world’s leading thinkers, from across 10 countries, will convene at AUS for the conference, which is part of the British Council’s global Belief in Dialogue programme.
The confirmed line-up of speakers at the conference include Patricia Fara: a historian of science at the University of Cambridge; Tariq Ramadan: Swiss Muslim intellectual, philosopher, and writer, currently Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University; Qanta Ahmed: author and Associate Professor of Medicine at the State University of New York; Ziauddin Sardar: writer and cultural critic who specialises in the future of Islam, science and cultural relations and Dr. Nidhal Guessoum, Professor of Physics, AUS.
The Middle East’s first Belief in Dialogue: Science, Culture and Modernity conference takes place at American University of Sharjah on 21-23 June 2011. For more information on the programme and speakers please visit: http://www.britishcouncil.org/new/society/belief-in-dialogue
For more information, please contact
Anmber Siddiqui
Head of Marketing & Communications Middle East
British Council
M +971 50 657 5046
anmber.siddiqui@ae.britishcouncil.org
Nazzal Yousuf
Director of Media and Printing
American University of Sharjah
M +971 50 562 6900
nyousuf@aus.edu
Tim Sowula
Press Officer
T +447771 718 135
tim.sowula@britishcouncil.org
Notes to Editors
About Belief in Dialogue
Belief in Dialogue is a new British Council programme which will explore how people in the UK and globally can live peacefully with diversity and difference in an increasingly pluralistic world.
Currently in its development phase, the programme will consist of a number of activities based on dialogue, widening participation and engagement with policy makers, opinion formers, thought leaders and the wider public worldwide.
Belief in Dialogue will use the British Council’s global presence and reputation for engaging in dialogue based on mutual respect to create new and innovative models for cross-community communication. The aim is to build global awareness and understanding between diverse communities, which enables greater appreciation of the value of living with difference.
Belief in Dialogue brings together individuals with diverse opinions to hear and understand one another, helping to break down simplistic notions of ‘them’ and ‘us’. With societies around the world becoming increasingly pluralistic, we believe it is vital we all learn to see the real people beyond the stereotypes.
About the British Council
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We work in over 100 countries worldwide to build engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people. We work in the arts, education, English, science and sport and last year we engaged face to face with 18.4 million people and reached 652 million. We are a non-political organisation which operates at arm’s length from government. Our total turnover in 2009/10 was £705 million, of which our grant-in-aid from the British government was £211 million. For more information, please visit: http://www.britishcouncil.org
About American University of Sharjah
American University of Sharjah (AUS) was founded in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. It offers 25 majors and 48 minors at the undergraduate level, and 13 master’s degrees through the College of Architecture, Art and Design; the College of Arts and Sciences; the College of Engineering; and the School of Business and Management. AUS is licensed in the United States by the Department of Education of the State of Delaware. It is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. AUS is also accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and all undergraduate and graduate programs are recognized by the ministry and have been awarded either accreditation or accreditation-eligible status. All six of the bachelor's degree programs in the AUS College of Engineering are accredited by ABET, Inc. of the United States. The Bachelor of Architecture program of the College of Architecture, Art and Design is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) of the United States. The School of Business and Management has earned international accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
