Intercultural Learning & Dialogue

1Abdollah Jafarali Jassbi, Intercultural Learning and Dialogue, Nov 04Intercultural Learning & DialoguePractical Approaches

PaperBy Abdollah Jafarali Jassbi,President, slamic Azad University,Iran

IAU Seminar on Intercultural Learning and Dialogue in Higher Education

Central European University (CEU), Budapest, Hungary

12 and 13 November 2004

Intercultural dialogue is a noble concept, based on human dignity, thinking and democracy. It privileges human beings and considers humanity as a central point of the universe. With their many differences, today human beings are present all over the world, and each one is like a gem playing a determining role in making and accomplishing of the elegant structure of the world community. Despite their differences in, among many things, language, race, color, tribe, religion, and nationality, they enjoy a variety of potential capabilities and talents that complement each other.

The concept of intercultural learning and dialogue lays the foundation for a shifting sense of ones place in the global arena, from the egocentric and individualist to the concept of integral global diversity, which privileges tolerance, solidarity and a mutual sense of understanding. Our aim is to throw away the non-scientific, unethical, and illogical feelings that bias our approaches. This does not mean to escape from the self-identity of our human character, in fact our aim is to reach the real nature of our human characters, and change him from being an aloof entity to a global entity to foster intercultural learning and dialogue. Therefore it is necessary to prepare and formulate programs and courses to educate our staff and students to function effectively and harmoniously in a multicultural society.

Nowadays, the concept of intercultural learning and dialogue has gained global recognition. Through interaction and respectful sharing of ideas and exploration of different thoughts and processes the world can be better understood. These interactions can broaden and encourage intercultural learning and understanding.

Conferences, seminars and meetings of experts can prepare the ground for positive and constructive approaches towards reaching to our goals of achieving applicable ways and means for the betterment of human society. In some disciplines of intercultural learning such as music, art, architecture, city planning, religious studies, humanities, and linguistics cultural traveling, scientific visits, the exchange of scholars, and cultural weeks can have a determining role in the development of dialogue. This issue as an ongoing process can have extensive and increasing impact on human society. The above-mentioned realities are considered strong and effective instruments for knowing and understanding each other. Development of intercultural exchanges needs the co-ordination of all sectors of society at the regional, national and international level. In fact, intercultural learning can remove the shortcomings of other cultures and can be developed and promoted through the process of intercultural dialogue. Through this approach we can encourage the development of a new structure, achieving our desired results by laying the foundation for the improvement of human society. The desired results cannot be obtained unless all human beings and societies jointly co-operate. Dialogue, identification and utilization of cultural experiences aids in the expression of necessities and demands and can lead us to find suitable solutions for our problems. Intercultural learning and dialogue is not possible without close co-operation and action between the universities, educational institutes and non-governmental organizations sharing their research, information and ideas. During the 12th General conference and 67th executive council meeting of the IAU in Sao Paulo, one of my colleagues proposed the headlines of courses of study on the topics of education and intercultural learning be compiled in a uniform way for teaching at different levels of higher education in the IAU member universities and other higher educational institutes, as well as associations of universities in Europe, America, Africa, and Asia that are affiliated with the IAU. At this stage, Islamic Azad University announces its preparedness for the establishment of Institutes of Intercultural Leaning and Dialogue in Asia and the Pacific at its Tehran Campus. I ask for the full support of the IAU and you the experts to extend assistance to make it a center of excellence for intercultural learning.

Respected Colleagues

Just as you are aware that each country and each culture has accomplished great honor in certain spheres such as education, culture, economy, social and political spheres, in certain other areas help is still needed. This is not possible without dialogue and exchange of experiences, ideas and the latest research methods of different countries and societies. Intercultural dialogue and learning holds hope and promises for the future. Intercultural dialogue does not require us to leave behind our ideals and ideas or to be indifferent to our own beliefs but instead it enriches and encourages joint intercultural exchanges on every sphere of culture and beliefs. Through this we can invite them for dialogue and during the course of dialogue should independently present and discuss our beliefs with each other.

Another form of effective intercultural learning could be the establishment of chairs of studies all over the world in universities and higher education institutes that are members of the IAU. This way students and staff can be familiar with the culture, customs, traditions, beliefs, languages, and arts of other societies. This can then form a base for continuous dialogue and intercultural learning and education among cultures. We should enter in communication with new languages and other methods of study and learning. With ordinary language, which has higher cultural power, we should become familiar with other cultures. Expansion of co-operation and peoples involvement, support for NGOs, respect for others ideas, ideals and rights, propagation of legal freedoms, and democracy are natural manifestations that can be pointed to. Through intercultural teachings we should try that all these values should be known to human societies, especially to students and the staff. For their development practical measures must be taken into account.

Bilateral useful dialogue and intercultural exchanges among cultures have been present in human societies since ancient times, and communication has been used as a tool for obtaining mutual understanding, resolving disputes and threats against peace, improving interchanges of ideas. We as experts can introduce these cultural, social, artistic, political, economic and religious human values with new methods and engineering in human societies. We do accept that development and growth of any culture is indebted to other cultures and this matter is not possible unless through inter-cultural teaching at the level of teaching centers. In this direction UNESCO and other international, national and regional organizations can play a vital and constructive role and with each others help we can light the candle of this movement at all levels of education internationally.

Dear Colleagues

We should promote co-operation and tolerance among young and old in schools and universities, as professors or in other roles. A vital and necessary factor is to convey that without tolerance towards other cultures and co-operation we can not achieve peace, development and progress. Now after many years, having experienced many problems and pain in human society it is better to introduce practical programs in order to achieve our desired aims and objectives.

No culture without tolerance towards other persons and cultures can develop. It should be accepted that through formal teachings at all levels of education, as well as informal technology, cultural traveling, exchanges of professors and students, providing scholarships, intercultural teachings, and holding student meetings among member universities of the IAU, can benefit as important tools. These factors can lead us to perform and practice our goals in a shorter time, and discipline, peace and unity in the world will be accomplished in the process of time.

In fact to reach all of the objectives as stated earlier, there is no other way than proper education. Through dialogues, which are our main responsibilities, and by offering new subjects for study in our higher education system, we can take positive action in educating our children from elementary through university levels. We should not forget that the behavior and teaching policies of our teachers and professors has a significant role in shaping our students personalities, and both deeply affects their thinking and plays an important role in shaping the future.

Through this policy we could expand peace, security, lawfulness, humanity, healthy and peaceful living, and cooperation around the world. This meeting gave us a valuable opportunity for better learning the different aspects of intercultural education, enabled us to better understand the general values of human social living, and try to do something about the anti-social activities that the world is presently facing. Intellectual and scientific associations have serious responsibilities to change theoretical ideas into action-oriented programs.

Dear Colleagues, researchers, professors, and Presidents of universities, I hope by deriving advantage of your viewpoints and ideas we could expand this cultural dialogue and execute action and goal oriented scientific programs in reviving the culture of exchanging knowledge. Today we need the serious support of organizations including UNESCO and the IAU strengthening and educating our younger and future generations, regardless of their nationalities. We are also in need of support of various organizations to provide long lasting services for human beings.