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Tony Blair hosts international student conference at National University of Singapore

Students from the Tony Blair Faith Foundation’s Faith and Globalisation Initiative came together for the first time in Singapore this weekend to discuss the role of faith in the modern world.

The initiative is a global network of leading research universities committed to exploring the complex interrelationship of faith and globalisation. It seeks to provide current and future leaders with the tools and analysis to examine the important role religion plays in the modern world.

Students from 7 leading research universities– Yale, McGill (Canada), Durham (UK), Peking, Western Australia, & Monterrey Tech (Mexico) and the National University of Singapore- came together to learn from each others’ respective world views.

The conference provided an opportunity for a genuine and in-depth exchange of ideas across different continents, faiths and nationalities.

Speaking after the event, founder and patron of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, Tony Blair, said:

“It is fantastic to be here in Singapore for this conference. Named as the most globalised city in the world and a place of huge religious diversity there is nowhere better to gather and explore the themes of faith and globalization. The conference was a wonderful opportunity for students from around their world to explore their different perspectives on the role of faith in the modern world and to see firsthand the reality of religious practice in Singapore.”

“For some of the students this trip was the first time they had stepped out of their home countries and been exposed to different cultures and religions. Despite living in an increasingly globalised world, religious illiteracy is still rife. In the modern world it is vital that we understand different faith perspectives as religion is the lens through which hundreds of millions of people view our complex and diverse world. To be ignorant of these views would be foolish and dangerous.”
 
Diego Borrego from Tecnológico de Monterrey said:
 
“The Faith and Globalisation conference has allowed me to put myself in contact with students from all over the world and understand our role as students in the continuous process of globalisation.”
 
Singapore was an ideal setting for this inaugural meeting. The country is itself a microcosm of globalization. It has a diverse population of 5 million people made up of Chinese, Malays, Indians, Caucasians, and Asians. It also has sixth-highest percentage of foreigners in the world (42%). This week also marks Singapore’s  National Independence Parade Day, which as well as commemorating the day Singapore gained its independence is a celebration of the diversity within the  country. Singapore can therefore impart wisdom on how to deal with the opening up of this new world where ancient boundaries of culture and identity are becoming less rigid and more fluid.
 
As part of the conference the international students explored some of Singapore’s religious sites to experience firsthand this diversity and learn more about the effort different faith groups are making to live in harmony.
 
This was a learning experience for the National university of Singapore students as well, Jeremy Auw said:
 
“When I drive by temples or mosques I don’t really think twice about it but the field visits today gave me a tremendous insight into the other religions in Singapore”
 
Last week Peking University became the first Chinese University to join the Faith and Globalisation initiative. This partnership is another example of China adapting to their place in a globalised world and significant step forward for those trying to promote religious and cultural understanding in future leaders and policy makers.