Deakin seeking first Chair in Islamic Studies and Intercultural Dialogue

The search is on for the first Fethullah Gülen Research Chair in Islamic Studies and Intercultural Dialogue, a new role which will position Deakin as a leader in interreligious understanding and cultural harmony.  

Located within the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation (ADI), the endowed Chair reflects the growing strategic partnership between Deakin University, the Australian Intercultural Society, and the Selimiye Foundation.

ADI Director Professor Fethi Mansouri said the new Chair will have a unique focus.

“The inaugural Fethullah Gülen Research Chair will play an important role in affirming the importance of difference in ways that go far beyond tolerance,” Professor Mansouri said.

“Deakin seeks an outstanding leader and internationally-recognised researcher to guide the Institute in areas including Islamic studies, religion, interfaith and intercultural studies, and diversity and migration studies.

“More broadly, the Chair will work towards developing the foundations of true dialogue where people of different traditions and beliefs get the opportunity to know one another and work together towards the ideal of living in peace.”

Professor Mansouri explained that Turkish preacher and writer Fethullah Gülen, for whom the Research Chair role is named, is a widely-respected Muslim scholar and founder of the Gülen movement.

“In 2009, Fethullah Gülen was voted as one of the world's top public intellectuals by Foreign Policy/Prospect magazine and in 2013 he was rated one of the world's most influential 100 people by TIME magazine,” Professor Mansouri said.

“In April this year, he was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College Gandhi King Ikeda Peace Award in recognition of his life-long dedication to promoting peace and human rights.

"Fethullah Gülen actively supports interfaith and intercultural dialogue and we are looking forward to appointing a person who can significantly advance the Institute's work in this area.”

In responding to the establishment of the Chair, Fethullah Gülen acknowledged the importance of intercultural understanding.

“An imperative responsibility falls upon us to promote the highest human values such as mutual love, respect, trust, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance and acceptance, as these values will allow people of different cultures and faiths to build bridges of friendship and goodwill,” Mr Gülen said.

"I am quite certain that the success and accomplishments of the Chair will not depend on its services to students alone but its services to the diverse academic communities around the world and humanity as a whole.”

Applications are now open until Sunday 31 January 2016.