International Federation of Catholic Universities to meet in Connecticut

Oct 17, 2005 / 22:00 pm

Sacred Heart University will host Catholic university leaders and scholars for an international four-day conference, Oct. 20-23. It will mark the 30th anniversary of the Center for Coordination of Research, established within the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU).

The conference, titled "The Center for Coordination of Research (CCR) Memories for the Future," will draw delegates from more than 20 nations and five continents.

Among the various topics, conference participants will discuss the focus of research emanating from the center; current trends informing research; the effect of rapid globalization, cultural pluralism, poverty and violence on research, and; how Catholic universities reflect their missions in their research. The conference will be in English, French and Spanish with simultaneous translation.

“There are those who hold that scholarly research should maintain a separation from the life and perspective of faith. The understanding of the Catholic intellectual tradition offers a contrary perspective,” said Sacred Heart University president Anthony Cernera, who also serves as vice president of IFCU for research.

Based in France, IFCU was created in 1949. It comprises about 200 universities and institutions of higher education throughout the world and has consultative status with the United Nations and the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.