iCES Inaugural Guest Lecture
Mrs. Gabriella
Battaini-Dragoni, Director General of Education, Culture &
Heritage, Youth & Sport at the Council of Europe was the
inaugural Guest Speaker for the recently established Institute of
Contemporary European Studies (iCES) at the European Business
School London.
Professor Michael Scriven, Director of the Institute of
Contemporary European Studies introduced Mrs Gabriella
Battaini-Dragoni stressing the highly appropriate nature of the
lecture for the educational ambitions of the iCES, the European
Business School London and Regent's College.
In his
opening remarks Professor Scriven declared:
"It is highly appropriate that we have organised this
particular lecture on this particular day to inaugurate iCES.
Today, 26 September, is the European Day of Languages, a highly
symbolic moment in the celebration of a multilingual European
Union.
This year 2008 is also the European Year of Intercultural
Dialogue, and for both the European Business School London and
Regents’ College multilingualism and intercultural dialogue are at
the centre of our educational ambitions. In fact, the mission
statement of Regent's College based on the twin themes of
Internationalism and Professionalism echo in many ways the issues
raised in the White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue that will be
presented today (..)
The White Paper underlines the fundamental role that Higher
Education plays in fostering intercultural dialogue. In this sense
Regent's College and the European Business School London as
uniquely international centres of Higher Education with over one
hundred nationalities present in the campus are privileged arenas
for putting intercultural dialogue into practice"
In her lecture Ms Gabriella
Battaini-Dragoni introduced Intercultural Dialogue as a
'necessity of our times in an increasingly diverse and insecure
world. Talking across ethnic, religious, linguistic and
national dividing lines is imperative'. In our culturally
fast-changing times, the White Paper is 'an important policy
document supported by 47 Member States, a political
statement'.
Full details
on the
"White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue: Living Together as Equals
in Dignity" can be found at the official website of the
Council of Europe on Intercultural
Dialogue.
Professor Michael Scriven, Director of the Institute of
Contemporary European Studies (iCES) and Ms Gabriella
Battaini-Dragoni. Friday 26th of September 2008 Institute of
Contemporary European Studies (iCES)
Page last updated 11/10/2009