About the UNITWIN Network for Inter-religious Dialogue for Intercultural Understanding (IDIU)
The UNITWIN Network on Inter-religious Dialogue for Intercultural Understanding (IDIU) brings together more than 31 UNESCO Chairs from more than 27 countries.
First established in 2006, the IDIU Network aims to promote dialogue among different religions, spiritual and humanistic traditions in a world where conflicts are increasingly associated with religious belonging.
It stresses the reciprocal interactions and influences between, on the one hand, religions, spiritual and humanistic traditions, and on the other, the need to promote understanding between them in order to challenge ignorance and prejudices and foster mutual respect.
The Network is a partnership between international academic centres recognised for their expertise in this field and brings together professors, researchers and specialists of the history of religions who are personally committed to the achievement of Inter-religious Dialogue. This network allows students, researchers and professors to benefit from a broad range of teaching which is at once secular, multi-religious and intercultural.
About the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme
Launched in 1992, the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme promotes international inter-university cooperation and networking to enhance institutional capacities through knowledge sharing and collaborative work.
The Programme supports the establishment of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks in key priority areas related to UNESCO’s fields of competence – i.e. in education, the natural and social sciences, culture and communication.
Through this network, higher education and research institutions all over the globe pool their resources, both human and material, to address pressing challenges and contribute to the development of their societies. In many instances, the Networks and Chairs serve as think tanks and as bridge builders between academia, civil society, local communities, research and policy-making. They have proven useful in informing policy decisions, establishing new teaching initiatives, generating innovation through research and contributing to the enrichment of existing university programmes while promoting cultural diversity. In areas suffering from a dearth of expertise, Chairs and Networks have evolved into poles of excellence and innovation at the regional or sub-regional levels. They also contribute to strengthening North-South-South cooperation.
Today, the Programme involves over 700 institutions in 126 countries.
All documents related to the UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Network Programme (new applications, progress reports, etc.) must be presented in one of the two working languages of the Programme: English or French.