The How colleges can promote community cohesion conference conference comes at a time when the government is investing £50 million over the next three years to promote initiatives and has recently released a public consultation document on the topic of community cohesion. This Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS)/Association of Colleges document -The Role of Further Education Providers in Promoting Community Cohesion, Fostering Shared Values and Preventing Violent Extremism - focuses on promoting community cohesion as a fundamental factor for combating the perceived threat of Al-Qaida terrorism.

Speakers at the conference include Bill Rammell (Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education), Dr Abdul Bari (Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain), Stella Mbubaegbu (Principal of Highbury College, Portsmouth) and Sally Hunt (General Secretary, University & College Union). Delegates will be given ideas on how to create a practical strategy of supporting community cohesion as well as how to make a case for government funds to support any initiatives.

Paul Mackney, NIACE Associate Director (FE), said:

"This conference will help people wrestle with the many hard questions that have been raised in the FE sector over this issue. Questions have been asked about whether our colleges are potential breeding grounds for terrorists and whether we are doing enough to eradicate racism. We need information on how secular colleges should relate to Faith Leaders and how we can improve communication between groups from different cultures."

Published: 12th Jun 2008