Cultural diversity a focus at international conference

Cultural diversity will be the theme at the 11th Conference on Education and Culture, which will be hosted by USQ's Multicultural Centre from 15 to 17 November 2007.

Organised by the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) in the Philippines, the Conference will focus on issues of cultural diversity under the theme of In Search of a Common Understanding of the Humanities.

25 delegates from across the globe are expected to attend the Conference at USQ, which has an impressive reputation worldwide.

'It is no accident, in my view, that USQ was selected as the host of this conference,' Director of the USQ Multicultural Centre, Dr Krzysztof Batorowicz said.

'This University is considered to be a leader in multiculturalism in Australia and we have made some important contributions overseas.'

Amongst the attendees will be a range of academics as well as some other high ranking representatives from different universities.

'The debate will include input from high level academics from Chile, Fiji, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and Australia,' Dr Batorowicz said.

'It is very significant that five presidents of universities will also be attending the event.'

This will be the second time that Toowoomba has hosted the Conference, with the delegates looking forward to once again visiting the garden city.

'The previous Toowoomba gathering was in 2004,' manager of the Multicultural Centre and Conference manager William Conwell said.

'Conference delegates were so impressed that they wanted to be here again.'

Toowoomba Mayor Di Thorley will host a reception for the delegates, with an official welcome from USQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Bill Lovegrove and a keynote address from the President of the UA&P, Dr Jose Mariano all on this Thursday November 15 2007 in the Alexander Mayes Room at Toowoomba's City Hall at 5:30pm.

Professor Peter Sheehan, Vice-Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University will deliver the address to the Conference gathering the following day (Friday November 16 2007).

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1628