UNESCO CHAIR For Inter-Religious Dialogue Studies in The Islamic World
In gracious response to an invitation extended by the Director-General of UNESCO, Dr. Khaled El-Enany, Dr. Alaa Shatnan, Director of the UNESCO Chair at the University of Kufa, took part in the international dialogue convened virtually under the emblematic theme, “Together, We Shape the Future of UNESCO.” The session was held on Thursday, 29 January 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Paris time (5:00 p.m. Baghdad time), under the patronage and in the presence of the Director-General himself.
The gathering brought together a distinguished constellation of representatives from UNESCO Chairs across the globe, fostering substantive and forward-looking deliberations on the optimal mobilization of the academic expertise embedded within UNESCO Chairs and the UNITWIN networks. Discussions centered on enhancing the strategic contribution of these scholarly platforms to the organization’s overarching objectives.
Particular emphasis was placed on invigorating the role of the Chairs in furnishing the United Nations system with high-caliber research and specialized training programs—initiatives designed to amplify the impact of public policy and to deepen community engagement in addressing the pressing global challenges of our contemporary moment.
