(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
The future role of the world's universities will expand two-fold with the increasing need for inquisitive minds that will help face the new challenges imposed upon the international community, H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari, Cultural Adviser at Emiri Diwan and Qatar's candidate for the post of Unesco's Director General has said.
Al Kawari was delivering the key-note address at the Eurasia Higher Education Summit (EURIE) which opened in Istanbul yesterday. The topic was 'The University as the Generator of Civilizational Change.
'My presence here coincides with my electoral race for the position of the Unesco Director-General. The respect, appreciation and forthright attention provided by UNESCO to universities is, of course, no secret to you, as universities continue to remain the intellectual point of reference for the progress made in matters affecting education, culture and sciences, said Al Kawari.
'Within my stipulated electoral programme, I have reserved an important place for the best academics, scientists and intellectual minds in the world, so that Unesco can embrace them now, when they are needed, more than ever before, he added.
'I firmly believe that we are among those who think about peace daily and lay the foundations of its noble philosophy. Universities have always been a pathway to the higher mind, and have played a direct role as the disseminators of the values of peace and the incubators of new ideas. Unesco embraces this same wonderful mindset and will always need your suggestions and alternatives as much as you need Unesco to be a high and noble umbrella that brings together and disseminates your aspirations for the good of humanity, said Al Kawari.
He said he had the good fortune of visiting many universities throughout my life, as he studied in the Faculty of Dar Al-Uloom in Egypt, Saint Joseph University in Lebanon, Sorbonne University in Paris and University of New York Stony Brook in the United States of America.
'It is not an exaggeration to say that higher education is currently facing successive crises of varying magnitude depending on the counties and the communities involved.
Thus, educational methods should always be open to reforms and reviews in order to mitigate problems and learn from crises, which all have varying dimension's of scope and entangling elements, and thus, do not only affect universities, but also directly affect the surrounding community and civilisation as a whole, due to the economic, social and political components attached, said Al Kawari.
'Therefore, it is important to properly recognise that universities are an integral part of society, and are the lifeblood that enacts the reforms that leads to the healthy creation of society as a whole, he added.
The higher education sector has recently reordered its priorities in accordance to its new learning goals that keep pace in sync with the latest global developments.
There is no doubt that these new initiatives were established while fully considering the importance of disseminating a new educational approach to thinking, and thus, changing the basis of the concept of 'universities.
Referring to the recommendations published by the Unesco in its booklet, 'Seven Complex Lessons in Education for the Future written by the French philosopher, Edgar Morin, Al Kawari said, 'One of the recommendations emphasised teaching earth citizenship so that future generations can be part of the humanitarian mission for all human beings who deserve to be treated equal without discrimination based on sex, religion or race.
There is also no doubt that contemporary technology in conjunction with economic and cultural globalization, is moving in this direction, and therefore, it is vitally important to continue building bridges between people and civilizations instead of putting up imposing barriers and walls.
'It is not an exaggeration to state that blind hatred and devotion to terrorism is in part due to the bad fruit of poor educational curricula, and thus, we should continually review our educational criteria and promote critical thought to bring forth a more enlightened approach to global affairs, he added.
He said that education has no single homeland, and the "minds of the world" are working towards expanding the circle of knowledge in the context of exchanging experiences and expertise, while taking advantage of all the available educational means and opportunities, wherever they may exist.
'The call should resonate for the sharing of the fruits of scientific research and the improvement of the growing crops of humanity in order to achieve food security and ensure higher education's contribution to affordable, sustainable development, said Al Kawari.
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