Prince Alwaleed Centers Convene at the University of Cambridge with Senior Policy Makers, Diplomats and Experts to Share Research and Insights

Release Date: Sunday, 8 May 2016

HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz AlSaud, Chairman of Alwaleed Philanthropies, convened the six Alwaleed Academic Centers on Friday 6 May:

The Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program, at Harvard University, the United States.
The Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, at Georgetown University, the United States.
The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center of Islamic Studies, at the University of Cambridge, the United Kingdom.
The Prince Alwaleed Center for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World, at the University of Edinburgh, the United Kingdom.
The Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz AlSaud Center for American Studies and Research, at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
The Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz AlSaud Center for American Studies and Research, at the American University in Cairo, Egypt.

A series of meetings on Muslim engagement with the western world took place at the University of Cambridge and was attended by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cambridge Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewics, Professor Yasir Suleiman, Director of the HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center of Islamic Studies, at the University of Cambridge, Dr. Hugh Goddard, Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World, at the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Ali Asani, Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program, at Harvard University, and Dr. Jonathan Brown, Director of Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, at Georgetown University.

Also in attendance was Professor Lisa Hajjar, Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz AlSaud Center for American Studies and Research, at the American University of Beirut, and Professor Magda Shahin, Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz AlSaud Center for American Studies and Research, at the American University in Cairo, along with Mr. Francis Ricciardone, newly appointed President of the American University in Cairo, and former United States Ambassador to Egypt.

The event started with an academic symposium of presentations and discussions of some of the research themes pursued at the University of Cambridge Center. Key Research Associates at the University of Cambridge Center presented on topics such as hate crime, medical ethics, and Muslim prisoners and rehabilitation. Following the presentations, a meeting conducted between the center delegates and Alwaleed Philanthropies focused on ideas of effective ways in which the six centers can collaborate to reach a wider audience. A panel discussion on “Cultural Understanding: Prospects and Challenges in the World Today” was then moderated by Professor Yasir Suleiman, and joined by all six Center Directors. The panel topic was part of the research accomplished at the Cambridge University Center, highlighting its world-class activities and how they resonate around the world, where over 70 guests had joined including academics, researchers and graduate students. Invited dignitaries then joined a dinner at King’s College for detailed discussions about the day’s findings.

Also in attendance from Alwaleed Philanthropies was HRH Princess Lamia Bint Majed AlSaud, Secretary General, Ms. Nauf Al Rawaf, Executive Manager of Global Initiatives, and Ms. Sara Balghonaim, Media & Communications Officer. Attending from HRH’s Private Office was Ms. Hassna Alturki, Executive Manager of International Relations, along with Mr. Fahad Bin Nafil, Senior Executive Assistant to HRH the Chairman and Mr. Hani Agha, Head of the Travel and External Affairs Department to HRH the Chairman. In addition, attending from the Kingdom Holding Company was Mr. Naief Alzuhair, Website & Social Media Manager of the Corporate Communications Department.

As part of its mission to build bridges that can foster cultural understanding, Alwaleed Philanthropies has provided over US $100 million worth of funding to the six academic centers, along with the Islamic Arts Hall in the Louvre Museum. They are located in prestigious seats of learning across the world. To mark today’s meeting, the HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center of Islamic Studies, at the University of Cambridge, issued a new report entitled “Muslims in the UK and Europe.” The report compiles postgraduate research papers studying the wide variety of different Muslims’ lived experiences in the UK and Europe, alongside an analysis of the forces affecting their lives.

“Muslim engagement with the western world will shape peace and security for generations to come. Yet many of the issues at the heart of the debate are poorly understood and much of the rhetoric is based on ignorance. The six Alwaleed Academic Centers are working together to change this – by driving new research, bringing together communities and uniting the best minds in the Islamic and western worlds,” said HRH Prince Alwaleed.

For over 35 years, Alwaleed Philanthropies has supported and initiated projects in over 120 countries regardless of gender, race, or religion. Alwaleed Philanthropies collaborates with a range of philanthropic, governmental and educational organizations to combat poverty, empower women and youth, develop communities, provide disaster relief and create cultural understanding through education.

HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal with the Centre Directos:

Back row, from left to right:

Dr. Ali Asani, Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program, at Harvard University

Professor Lisa Hajjar, Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz AlSaud Center for American Studies and Research, at the American University of Beirut

Dr. Jonathan Brown, Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, at Georgetown University

Professor Magda Shahin, Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz AlSaud Center for American Studies and Research, at the American University in Cairo

Dr. Hugh Goddard, Director of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World at the University of Edinburgh

Front row, from left to right:

Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewics, Vice Chancellor at The University of Cambridge

HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz AlSaud, Chairman of Alwaleed Philanthropies

Professor Yasir Suleiman, Director of the HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center of Islamic Studies, at the University of Cambridge

Image copyright: The University of Cambridge. Full image available on request.