Day Three - Engaging Across Religious and Academic Diversity
Today we explored the stunning Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It is a monument to faith, tolerance, and coexistence, tenants that are evident in the multitudes of visitors each year from every faith background. The architecture, mosaics, marble work, and carpet are beyond stunning on its own. Our cohort had the additional unbelievable opportunity to meet directly with H.E. Yousif al-Obaidli, the Director General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, to hear directly from his perspective that the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a place for learning.
As a current Ph.D. student in interfaith diplomacy in the Middle East, I was beyond thrilled to hear about how the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is engaging across religious communities. H.E. Yousef Al Obaidli gave the cohort deeper insights into the daily functions and opportunities for interfaith dialogue embedded in the programming of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Our cohort immensely appreciated the intentionality of the mosaic designs, representing the flora all over the world, decorating every wall, column, and floor, showcasing the global interconnections. Walking around the grounds, our cohort had the chance to explore directly with the main prayer hall and marvel at the exquisite artwork lining each inch.
-Benjamin Lutz
Today we had the pleasure of visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Beyond its majestic display of Islamic architecture and stature, it also serves as a hub for connecting people and diverse cultures around art, spirituality and an essence of togetherness. We met with the Director General and learned that they host over 6 million visitors a year. He showed us a historic photograph of Catholic nuns marveling at the architecture and beauty of the mosque, an exemplary showcase of the power of art to transcend language or religion and connect others through interfaith or intercultural experiences. We traveled through the Tolerance Path, which took us on a pictorial journey of the mosque’s rich history and promotion of acceptance, openness and peace, a recurring theme throughout our visit. Exploring the sacred grounds of the mosque was truly breath-taking: the intricate details and reverence for Islamic tradition and diversity exemplified their efforts of bringing together diverse Muslim populations in its architecture in a welcoming and ornately decorated sacred space.
Following our visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, we went to NYU Abu Dhabi. There we heard from Mariet Westermann about NYU’s commitment to creating global opportunities for its students to expand their worldviews and experiences while receiving a quality education. When speaking about NYU’s history of opening campuses abroad, she mentioned how pivotal the opening of NYU Abu Dhabi was due to the fact that it was the university’s first location in the Middle East after a long history of campuses predominantly in the Western hemisphere. While their student population remains incredibly diverse with individuals from over 120 countries, I was also pleased to learn about their dedication to supporting Emirati students and engaging with the local community in meaningful ways.
Having graduated from NYU and studied abroad at NYU Florence and NYU Paris, it was great to see a new perspective of the institution in Abu Dhabi while recognizing the familiar ethos of open-mindedness and innovation that connects all of NYU’s global community. My first-hand experiences of engaging in cultural exchange through NYU have shaped much of my early career interests in international relations and this visit was a reminder of the importance of educational and early career programs in empowering the next generation of global leaders.
-Rachel McCave
New York University Abu Dhabi, or NYU Abu Dhabi, welcomed our international cohort to its campus with open arms and a visible passion for the university’s mission. NYU Abu Dhabi is the first comprehensive liberal arts and science campus in the Middle East to be operated abroad by a major American research university. The university itself is only one of NYU’s international locations, so students join the school’s international circulation and exchange by traveling to partner campuses in different countries.
NYU Abu Dhabi emerged in 2010 as an academic hub of diversity that captures the spirit of global citizenship. The 1900 students on campus come from 120 different countries, with the largest single group, Emiratis, comprising only 19% of the student population. Students are chosen on a need-blind basis, after which the university closes financial gaps to enable students to attend.
As a peace builder working on international exchanges, I was moved by the story that Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann shared about the university’s inception. At that time, then-NYU university president John Sexton saw that students faced hurdles in accessing international trips. His goal was to make it just as easy to sign up for international trips as it was to register for classes. This new hub in Abu Dhabi would provide that chance.
The next decision Sexton made is key. Sexton did not have the professorial staff for the new campus yet, and Sexton was just starting to learn about the country in which the university would be founded. But he agreed that the university would be degree granting, because in partnership with his UAE colleagues, the university would be the same quality as NYU New York. Sexton embodied the fact that international relationship-building takes the courage to have confidence in our neighbors around the world.
During our NYU Abu Dhabi visit, my colleagues and I were lucky enough to share lunch with current undergraduates, including two individuals named Monica and Hamdan. Hailing from Poland and the UAE/ Palestine respectively, the students solidified the message of our exchange and the mission of the university: There is no substitute for diversity on our shared path towards peace.
-Coretta Lemaitre
