The Nihal European University in Sudan

The Institute for Cultural Pluralism and Intercultural Communication will be supervised by the Humanities Faculty, but it should work on a cross-faculty and interdisciplinary basis with members of other faculties as well. It should be possible for scholars to affiliate from the various departments of the Nihal European University in Sudan, working together to meet the challenges current to global cultural phenomena.

The Institute has the following objectives:

• To cultivate contacts with national and international research support institutions
• To encourage public awareness of the pluralism of opinions, values and interests
• To exercise influence on the public sphere with the goal of teaching a differentiated image to the Western world and also to other cultures
• To spread information about interculturalism
• To integrate intercultural studies in the degree programmes of the Nihal European University in Sudan
• To possibly develop a degree programme in “Intercultural Competence in the Orient and Occident”
• To make a contribution to international understanding
• To make possible intercultural learning
• To be a site for research queries on economics, development cooperation and other extramural institutions and organisations

The general job of this institute is to stimulate, accompany and concentrate various teaching and research activities which deal with communicative interaction and interculturalism on a national and international level.

Its tasks are divided into three large working areas:

1. Research
2. Service
3. Mediation

It should be insured that the Institute bring together theory and practice in fulfilling its duties. It should primarily support projects which serve the purpose of international understanding and the acceptance of cultural pluralism.

In the area of research we will study above all global cultural phenomena and intercontinental cultural relations. It is projected that the institute will focus on examining the relationships and interdependencies between Orient and Occident.

The research activity should be distinguished by a high degree of multi- and interdisciplinary cooperation. Thus the preference will be to support research projects which are suited to take on a mediating function between various disciplines.

Specific research projects could have the following thematic foci:

• Diversity and diversification in culture and society
  • Social and international diversity
  • Modern cultures and multicultural societies
  • The pluralism of opinions, values and interests
  • Intercultural differences
  • Communication between difference population groups and cultural circles within Sudan
• Political and cultural relations between Sudan and Europe
  • Above all the present-day relations between Sudan and Europe should be examined, including their historical preconditions
  • In combination with this research the institution can optimize its functions in the areas of service and mediation activity
• Migration
  • Regions and nations vis-a-vis borders and diaspora
  • Migration to the West
  • Migration within Sudan
• Cultural description of self and other
  • Ethnic identity
  • The construction of religious and cultural identities
  • Identity crisis
• Problems of globalization
  • Transformation in the structure of the international system
  • Development of national and international foreign policy
• Cultural contact, cultural conflict and regulation of conflict
  • To be researched are (on the one hand) current and historical fields of contact between Arab peoples and states with the Western world
  • To be discussed are (on the other hand) problems and conflicts within Sudan (in the context of regional relationships)
  • Particular consideration should be placed on the area of conflict resolution (in a later phase we might consider a separate Institute or Centre for Conflict Research)

The services are composed of the areas of continuing education and consulting. We plan on offering services for universities and schools as well as for politics, business and administration and other fields. The Institute should thus be a focal point for social and cultural educational activities.

As for continuing education offerings of the Institute we should develop relevant courses on topics such as “Intercultural Communication Orient-Occident”. A long-term goal to consider would be a separate degree programme in “Intercultural Competence Orient-Occident”. In addition intercultural training should be offered, for instance in cultural awareness. This offering would be important for guest lecturers and members of the university but also for new members of the Nihal European University in Sudan staff from abroad.

The consulting function of the Institute could on the one hand take place in the form of briefing and coaching. Here strong cooperation would be planned with the Coaching Academy. Imaginable courses would be “Doing Business in the European countries / China / India” or “Working in Multicultural Teams”. On the other hand we can offer consulting in politics, business and administrations by developing informational packets / country reports and the like.

The Institute has the role of achieving a networking of research on cultural pluralism and intercultural communication with national and international, public and private institutions in research, developmental cooperation and culture. In addition it should develop a sphere of Sudanese-European mediation activity.

In the area of mediation are included all of the supporting mechanisms which serve mediation between Nihal European University in Sudan, Sudanese cultural institutes and international scholarship and culture.

The Institute and its members will make efforts to produce linkages between Sudan and Europe. It will mediate by organizing activities with persons in science, politics and culture in the Sudan and abroad. These activities fall into the following categories:

• Conferences (e.g. an Intercultural Diversity Conference)
• Seminars, workshops
• Readings, lectures
• Colloquia, discussions
• Support of Nihal European University in Sudan activities abroad (including possibly the founding of an Office for International Relations)

Besides international symposia revolving guest lectureships should also be planned. In this way scholars from throughout the world will be given the opportunity to make contributions to the teaching offerings at the university.

Through the establishment and interplay of these activities the Institute will make possible research that applies broadly. The exchange of scholars and experts on interculturalism will thereby be institutionalized, creating a basis developing new research organisations.