The Claude Pepper Center for Intercultural Dialogue has recognized the importance of Education in establishing effective and meaningful cross-cultural understanding. Although it is essential to provide people with the knowledge of their own community, it is also crucial to develop the understanding and appreciation of other societies and cultures through education in art, religion, service and exchange projects, as well as the media.

“The Alliance Association” of Colleges and Universities

Universities exist as centers of learning and bring together students from all backgrounds and traditions. It is likely that on any given campus there are students and faculty members from all the civilizational identities. Where better, then, to foster a “culture of dialogue” than among those willing to learn form others and at the same time, willing to share the realities of their own experiences.

It is the belief that leaders of universities must work together with the representatives of government, business, religion, communications, and humanitarian groups, as well as with representatives of indigenous communities within developing regions, that the Claude Pepper Center, together with the College of Social Sciences at the Florida State University, undertakes the role of catalyst in stimulating universities throughout the world to foster within their academic communities and in collaboration with the world-wide academic community of colleges and universities a “global climate of dialogue.”

The realization of the ambitions of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations requires support from the world’s colleges and universities, as well as from the affiliated centers and institutes in terms of research, teaching and outreach programs.The Claude Pepper Center and The Florida State University seek to build an “Alliance Association” of Colleges and Universities committed to supporting the mission of the UN Alliance of Civilizations.

The “Alliance Association” exists to organize support through:

1. Communication: The sharing of information within an international/intercultural network of institutions of higher learning, related to initiatives and established programs supporting the goals of The Alliance of Civilizations;
2. Cooperation: The implementation of plans designed by persons of various cultures to work together in creating a global climate of dialogue in support of the goals of The Alliance of Civilizations; and
3. Collaboration: The international/intercultural planning among institutions of higher learning, within this world-wide network, of joint undertakings in support of the goals of The Alliance of Civilizations.

The “Alliance Association” is guided by a steering committee composed of leaders from different parts of the world, with the coordinating support of the Claude Pepper Center for Intercultural Dialogue at the Florida State University.