Mission statement
The Centre for Dialogue is primarily committed to research but also education and training, policy development and community engagement focusing on the philosophy, method and practice of dialogue.
Formally established by Academic Board in 2005, the Centre’s research focuses primarily on:
- dialogue between cultures, religions and civilisations – relevant to many contemporary local, national and international conflicts; and
- dialogue between competing globalisation discourses and perspectives.
The Centre will develop a programme of on-going and intensive interaction in Australia and internationally, involving scholars and experts as well as practitioners in government, industry, labour, international organisations, professional associations and the community sector more generally.
The mission of the Centre has five key elements:
- to engage in pure and applied research of international standing that addresses the challenges of and opportunities for dialogue presented by cultural, religious and political diversity – locally, nationally and internationally;
- to conduct educational and training courses and projects designed to promote cultural literacy and the philosophy, practice and method of dialogue in schools and institutions of higher and continuing education;
- to be involved in community engagement aimed at nurturing inter-ethnic, intercultural and inter-religious dialogue and co-operation;
- to forge international partnerships, exchanges and collaborative projects, with a focus on Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North America; and
- to collaborate with and offer policy advice to, governmental bodies, international agencies and community organisations.
Over the next five years, the Centre for Dialogue will, as a University Centre:
- develop cutting edge research projects that build upon La Trobe University’s strengths in International Relations, International Law, Australian Studies, Asian Studies, European Studies, Latin American Studies, Cultural and Religious Studies, Media Studies, Public Health and Education;
- contribute to the work of the Institute of Human Security, and maintain a close relationship with the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and in particular the School of Social Sciences, as well as with the School of Law, the School of Public Health and other relevant parts of La Trobe University;
- build strong research partnerships with leading international research and educational institutions;
- develop a supportive environment for postgraduate research, including more extensive use of scholarship opportunities;
- develop a national and international collaborative programme involving; a) visiting fellowships; b) joint sponsorship of workshops, symposia and conferences; c) joint publications;
- maintain a solid range of publications, including the scholarly journal Global Change, Peace and Security (published by Routledge), the Working Papers series, occasional papers, and a number of single authored, jointly authored and edited books;
- play a leadership role in the establishment of a multi-nodal Global Network for Dialogue;
- maintain a close working relationship with the State Government of Victoria, the Federal Government, local councils and related agencies, as well as a wide range of other Australian universities and community organisations;
- maintain a register of Australian dialogue-centred organisations, projects and initiatives;
- develop collaborative projects with the UN, UNESCO, the EU, ASEM, other international agencies and governments that have a strong commitment to the dialogue of cultures, faiths and civilisations;
- mount a wide range of consultations, briefings, educational courses and other services responding to the needs of educational institutions, religious and other community organisations, media, the professions, industry, philanthropy and government (local, state and national) organisations; and
- develop a Resource Centre, which can service academic research, community-based projects, and interested members of the public.
