Our Shared Values Symposium

Participants from Türkiye and Europe to Discuss "Our Shared Values" at Bahçeşehir University

Organized in cooperation with the British Council, the Bahçeşehir University Center for Civilization Studies (MEDAM-CSC) and the Association of Muslim Social Scientists, the Our Shared Values Symposium will be held on Tuesday, 30 March, between 10:00 and 13:00 at the Fazıl Say Hall of Bahçeşehir University. The "Our Shared Values Symposium" is organized to contribute to intercultural dialogue by providing a platform, as an example of social solidarity, where representatives from different cultures, religions and schools of thought can discuss common values and principles.

The first event held in Türkiye as part of the British Council's "Our Shared Europe" initiative (www.oursharedeurope.org) , the Our Shared Values Symposium is organized to contribute to intercultural dialogue by providing a platform, as an example of social solidarity, where representatives from different cultures, religions and schools of thought can discuss common values and principles.

The most important foundation of the symposium is built on the individual peaceful initiatives of responsible citizens who want to see themselves as part of a healthy society. The aim of the symposium is to pursue social cohesion through an understanding of responsible citizenship, and in doing so, to ensure that responsibility is shared with a wider audience, not limited to believers in the 'Abrahamic' religions that form the basis of our civilization and to those who come from the mixed Judeo-Christian-Muslim heritage.

On 30 March, the Our Shared Values Symposium is open to university students, lecturers, NGOs, media representatives and anyone interested in the subject.
Shaped also by questions from the audience, our panel will examine the shared common values that can exist regardless of faith, identity or opinion and that make living together possible.

PROGRAM

I: Opening speeches

- Prof. Dr. Bekir Karlığa , Head of the Center for Civilization Studies, Bahçeşehir University

- Jeff Streeter , Director of British Council Türkiye

- Prof. Dr. Mehmet Asutay , Board Member of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists and Faculty Member at Durham University

10:15 - 10:30 Presentation by Prof. Dr. Mehmet Asutay of "Shared Values and the Civilization of 'Humanity': The Need for an Alliance of Communities" - a study by Jeremy Henzell


10:30 - 11:00 Sharing the outcomes of the first day's session

11:00 - 11:45 Panelists' Speeches

Panelists:

- Caroline Finkel , Historian and author

- Prof. Dr. Mehmet Asutay, Board Member of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists and Faculty Member at Durham University

- Prof. Dr. Nilüfer Narlı , Head of the Department of Sociology, Bahçeşehir University

- Reha Çamuroğlu , Historian and author, AK Party Member of Parliament for İstanbul

- Alain Servantie , Advisor, Inter-institutional Relations, Directorate-General for Enlargement, European Commission, Belgium

- Dr. Steffen Dix , Researcher, University of Lisbon

- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kaan Harun Ökten , Faculty Member, Department of Sociology, Bahçeşehir University

11:45 - 12:45 Q&A

12:45 - 13:00 Closing


Important Note: The meeting is open to external participants; Bahçeşehir University reserves the right to limit external participation for security reasons.