The Netherlands - Arabic Center

For Researches and Studies

Since the beginning of 20th century, a new phase of political, Social and cultural interaction has emerged between Europe and Arab world. This was specially noticed in Western Europe. Later, it was significant that this relationship improves to become new reality.

The immigration of Arabs to Europe has witnessed many developments. The Arabs migrated to Europe in 20th centaury were from different cultural and social levels, among them, a notable educated and business men were seen. Toward the end of the centaury, the Euro-Arab interact has further reshaped to turn into Arabic-European society, a very special mixture culturally and socially, also biologically and psychologically.

The interaction has further developed when some Europeans adopted Islam, learned Arabic, and married to Arabic men or women.

Looking at the latest generation of Arab immigrants in Europe, we could see a clear impact of the European culture in the Arabs social characteristics. Nevertheless the spirit of Arabic and Islamic traditions and values could still survive among many segments of these young generations. Here we have a new generation which is considered a very important factor in the relationship between Arabic East and European West.

These facts, in addition to other facts such as terrorism and violence has inspired Lahaye University to exist and take the initiative and act like a bridge between East and West in a very critical period of time when the two parties are in urgent need for conducting dialogue and clear vision among the two.

For this purpose, and working on the academic message university try to convene , it was decided to establish a centre for research and studies that look deeply at the cultural , economic, Social and economic interaction between Arab minorities and European societies. This centre hosts a number of highly educated skills specialized in Humanistic and applied sciences that serve in a positive way the relationship between University and its European atmosphere.

The centre is to conduct researches that lead to:

1- Clarifying the picture of Arab Minorities and reflecting the basic characteristics (positive or negative) of such presence. Also setting the requirements that can make this minority more active in its social, economic, and cultural performance inside the Netherlands society in particular and other European societies in general.

2- Searching at the future of this Arabic presence and its future needs and interests. The research can offer a valuable opinion to the European institution that are in direct contact with this group and the future relationship between these service institution and these minorities.

Objectives

The centre aim at conducting research and studies in the social , political , economic and psychological fields , as well as methods of social and cultural integration of Arabic society within the Dutch and European societies. The centre holds the responsibility of holding the academic research in touching the existing problems and proposes studies and advises to it. The researchers are mostly a graduate from West-European universities

The centre was established in May 2007 as a research body responsible on conducting academic researches within the context of Lahaye International University (LIU). The centre has an organizational structure and is linked with higher council of the university.

The centre is linked with University council and is coordinated by university vice president for academic affairs.

Centre activities and Mechanism:

The future mechanism of the centre will depend on the requirements that exist for researches and specialized studies. The major sections of this centre will be:

First: Department of Researches and studies:

Consist of the following sections:

1- Social researches headed by scholar specialized in social sciences and communication sciences

2- Psychological researches and integration: to be headed by scholar specialized in psychology

3- Education researches: To be headed by scholar specialized in Education sciences,

4- Economic researches: To be headed by specialized economist.

5- Political researches: To be headed by scholar specialized in political sciences

6- Legal Researches section: to be headed by scholar specialized in International law or General Law.

Second: Public Relation Department

As this centre is an academic organization, it work on establishing high level relation with Netherlands parties (research centers, universities and other bodies of interest whether government or non-government, the parliament, Employment departments, immigration and religious organization (churches or/and Muslims)

Third: Advisory committee:

An advisory committee is to be formed and consist of researchers, professors of highly experienced in different field of study to supervise the researches and studies and to suggest studies related to the function of the center and evaluating researches and approving them for publishing.

Four: General Activities:

The center attempt to conduct several live workshops, cultural gatherings, conferences that discuss different matters of interests to the Dutch society in particular and to the European society in general. It also seek to establish intellectual and cultural interaction between university and other external parties. The center is also responsible on organizing non-academic activities such as cultural festivals, philanthropic markets and educational circles.

Center Journal:

The center attempt to issue seasonal or half-year high quality research journal contains a number of academic researches. These published researches act as chain for cooperation and exchange of thoughts with academic institutions in the European continent and the Middle East, besides supporting the role of the center in building new positive values that can be useful to the objectives of LIU and Dutch society and clear away the vague and misunderstanding between the Arabic and European society. The center is to coordinate with Arabic and European publishing houses to publish books and translate them to Dutch, English, German and French.

The first Academic conference of LIU:

The Center is planning to schedule the academic conferences and draft a plan to each of these conferences (assigning researchers and topics, and objectives and programs)

Time: The conference is to be held in first week of April 2008 for 2 days.

Title: The fist academic conference of Lahaye International University

(Future of high education to Arabic minorities in Europe)