This is an interdisciplinary postgraduate researcher conference led by Commonwealth scholars studying at Cardiff University. It marks the culmination of a series of seminars on ‘Commemorating the Modern Commonwealth through Research and Cultural Exchange’ organised by the Commonwealth Scholars' Wales and Northern Ireland Regional Networks and provides opportunities for the cross-pollination of ideas across disciplines, cultures and universities.

 

In 2005, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting held in Malta, the Commonwealth Commission on Respect and Understanding was given a mandate to, amongst other things, examine the importance of respect and understanding to different social groups within Commonwealth countries.  The Commission addressed a number of issues affecting our world and solutions identified were found to be the quintessence of the Commonwealth’s traditional approach. The Civil Paths to Peace report is the result of this mandate and the main inspiration for this conference entitled ‘Removing the Divide: Respecting and Understanding Cultures’. The conference therefore represents a celebration of the Commonwealth approach which is one that encourages unity through valuing principles of consensus-building, dialogue, mutual respect and understanding, where there is cultural diversity.

 

The Commonwealth features as a central area of focus for this conference because it is the embodiment of unity even where there is multiplicity in cultures, histories and essences. Therefore in addition to increasing awareness about the Commonwealth and challenges faced by its member states, other aims of this conference are:

• To foster knowledge exchange and the strengthening of the network of postgraduate researchers on cultural issues;

• To champion amongst postgraduate students the need to go beyond the pedagogy of traditional methodologies which emphasise one discipline, through critical exploration of potential advantages and limitations of interdisciplinarity; and

• To provide an opportunity for postgraduate researchers to effectively communicate the impact of their research to a non-specialist audience.​​

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This one-day conference is funded by the University Graduate College and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom and will be hosted by Cardiff School of Social Sciences in partnership with the Welsh School of Architecture.

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