The Principal of the Al Maktoum Institute in Dundee is hoping the new decade will be one of understanding and reconciliation in the world.
In his New Year message, Professor Malory Nye said today (December 30, 2009), “The opening decade of this Millennium has been dominated by the tragic events of 9/11 – hopefully, 2010 will open a decade of new understanding and reconciliation. Certainly, we believe bridges can be built between those of differing and opposite views and that dialogue will become encouraging, positive rather than negative.
“At the Al-Maktoum Institute we have spent much of the past ten years promoting the values of multiculturalism and we hope that in the next decade we will see this taken further both here in Scotland and internationally. Intelligent debate and understanding of Islam and the role of Muslims in the contemporary world is what we promote and if that ideal can be fostered and upheld, then the range of challenges faced around the world may not be so apparently insurmountable. I believe there are opportunities for the positive to replace the negative through diverse thinking for today’s world. This cannot be over-stated.
“More locally, the Institute is looking forward to pursuing its ambitious plans to become a University College by the year 2020. We feel we have the talent and determination to make it happen.
“It would make the Institute a distinctive, independent and internationally-recognised centre of excellence for higher education with its own degree awarding powers, while continuing our valued partnership with the University of Aberdeen.
“On behalf of the Al-Maktoum Institute family, I wish everyone a very happy and peaceful New Year.”
