Dialogue among Cultures and Civilizations : International Conference in Rabat

The reform of school and university curricula, the role of indigenous knowledge in science and shared cultural heritage are some of the issues that will be discussed at the International Conference to be held in Rabat (Morocco) from June 14 to 16 on the theme “Fostering Dialogue among Cultures and Civilizations through Concrete and Sustained Initiatives”. Some 100 experts from Africa, Europe, and the United States will be attending. They are to prepare an action programme in the fields of education, science, communication and culture, and in so doing open the way for a series of activities that will make dialogue among cultures a reality.

Starting on June 14 (10 a.m. at the Hilton Hotel), the conference features four workshops:

- a workshop on education will look at the reform of school and university curricula, the revision of textbooks in some key subjects, the writing of teachers’ guides and prototype programmes, the teaching of human rights and multicultural education;

- another workshop will examine science and technology, the role of indigenous knowledge, the notion of ethics and responsibility in science, the establishment of regional cooperation mechanisms and the promotion of scientific collaboration;

- a third workshop, on culture, will focus on national museums, art festivals, youth meetings, shared cultural heritage and the introduction of culture in the training of guides;

- a fourth workshop, on communication, will examine ways to train journalists, and raise their awareness about the fight against ignorance and stereotypes.

On the evening of June 14, “Dialogue among Melodies: a unique concert bringing together traditional instruments from different cultures” will be held.

Placed under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the Conference is jointly organized by UNESCO, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), the Danish Centre for Culture and Development (DCCD) and the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures (Alexandria, Egypt).