UNESCO CHAIR For Inter-Religious Dialogue Studies in The Islamic World
Dr. Alaa Shatnan, Director of the UNESCO Chair at the University of Kufa, took part in the assembly that convened the directors of UNESCO Chairs from Iraqi universities. The meeting was held at the American University of Baghdad on Monday, May 5, 2025, and was attended by the directors of the UNESCO Chairs at the universities of Kufa, Baghdad, and Mosul, in addition to the UNESCO Chair at the American University of Baghdad. Also present were the representative of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Omar Al-Nuaimi, Head of the UNESCO Division, and Dr. Kelsey Shanks, Director of the UNESCO Chair for Education for Peacebuilding and Human Rights from Ulster University in the United Kingdom, as well as Dr. Hassan Nadhem, Assistant President of the American University for Scientific Consultancy Affairs.
The gathering served as a forum for deliberating the prospects of fostering mutual collaboration among the four UNESCO Chairs in Iraq, and for addressing the principal obstacles and challenges impeding their work. At the conclusion of the discussions, an agreement was reached to submit a series of recommendations and proposals to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research through its official representative. These included a proposal for the Ministry to sponsor an annual joint conference bringing together the four Chairs, to be hosted each year by one of the universities affiliated with a Chair. The recommendations also encompassed suggestions for providing certain administrative and logistical facilitations, as well as exploring avenues of financial support to sustain the activities of the UNESCO Chairs in Iraq and ensure the continuity and vitality of their work.
Translated by Razan Al-Sultany
