CIREAD - International Center for Research and Decision Support

On 29-30 June 2026, AVEPRO organized a Regional Seminar for Ecclesiastical Higher Education Institutions in North America, hosted by St. Augustine’s Seminary of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Building on the outcomes of the first regional seminar, this second North American edition focused on two strategic challenges identified by AVEPRO as potential “game changers” for higher education: sustainability and artificial…
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Dr. Ziad Fahed, Professor at the Department of Religious, Cultural and Philosophical Studies of Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU), Lebanon, and a longstanding collaborator of the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU), mainly as COCTI member (the IFCU theological network), has been elected Chair of the Federation’s Scientific Council for Research (CSR). Nominated by NDU President…
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We are pleased to share that the VII Uniservitate Global Symposium, organized in collaboration with LUMSA University, will take place in a hybrid format on 26th and 27th October in Castel Gandolfo, southeast of Rome (Italy). The Symposium will provide an international forum for sharing experiences, fostering dialogue and advancing reflection on service-learning, while welcoming…
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The International Research groups (IRG) leaders had the pleasure to meet up with the new IFCU President and UNIVA Rector, Father Francisco Ramírez Yáñez, during the annual meeting of the Council for Scientific Research (CSR), which was held at the IFCU headquarters in Paris, France, on 3-4 May 2026. As a reminder, the Council, which…
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How can your university further strengthen the coherence between its mission, identity, and institutional practices?How can these foundations continue to guide strategy and decision-making over time?How can your institution enhance its societal contribution while supporting long-term sustainability?     Launch of the Annual Assessment Campaign – IFCU Newman Framework   Building on more than a…
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The IFCU International Research Group in Education Sciences (ACISE) is pleased to invite scholars, researchers and higher education professionals to submit original manuscripts to EducA – International Catholic Journal of Education, for Issue No. 12 on the topic of “Tradition and Innovation in Catholic Education”. 🗓 Submission deadline: 30 September 2026 📍 Double-blind peer review…
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Take part in the global mapping of Catholic universities!    The International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU), through its International Centre for Research and Decision Support (Ciread), has launched a flagship project to map Catholic universities across the world in order to gain a better understanding of the reality and evolution of Catholic higher education…
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We are pleased to share the publication of the NHNAI White Paper: Societal exploration of humanism at the service of AI ethics and governance — a key output of the NHNAI project on « New Humanism in the time of Neurosciences and Artificial Intelligence ». This flagship document is now available for consultation and open for comments with a view to…
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As part of the collaboration between Educatio and CIREAD-IFCU, we are pleased to invite you to respond to the call for papers for issue 17 of the journal, which is freely accessible. This new issue will focus on the theme ‘Vulnerability: a path to fraternity?’, approached from the perspective of primary, secondary and higher education. In the face of societies…
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The International Centre for Research and Decision Support (CIREAD) of the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) participated in the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU), held in Washington, D.C., from January 30 to February 2, 2026. The ACCU Annual Meeting is a key annual rendezvous for IFCU, offering a unique platform…
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The Conference of Catholic Theological Institutions (COCTI/CICT) will hold its 2026 General Assembly (GA) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from May 25 to 28, 2026, which will be followed by a Symposium open to anyone interested in the topic addressed. Following the COCTI tradition of combining assemblies with meaningful theological reflection on contemporary challenges, this…
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On behalf of CIREAD-IFCU, I was delighted to take part in the VI Uniservitate Global Symposium held at the Catholic University of Eichstätt–Ingolstadt (Germany) on 6-7 November 2025. This year’s symposium brought together universities’ authorities, educators, researchers and students from across the globe to reflect on the theme “Service-Learning in a Fragile World: Universities Nourishing Peace and Hope”. The sessions were…
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On 26th September 2025, the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) Secretary General, Prof. François Mabille, and Dr. Montserrat Alom, Director of the Federation’s International Center for Research and Decision Support, had the great pleasure of meeting Dr. Josep Antoni Rom Rodríguez, Rector of Universitat Ramon Llull (URL), Barcelona, and holding a strategic working session with Dr. Carlo Maria Gallucci Calabrese, Vice-Rector for International Relations and…
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The European Universities Initiative (EUI), launched by the European Commission in 2019, aims to foster unprecedented levels of cooperation among higher education institutions across Europe. By creating transnational alliances, the initiative – currently counting 65 alliances with more than 570 higher education institutions – seeks to enhance the quality, inclusiveness and competitiveness of European higher…
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CIRAD is pleased to share the “Africa Charter on Transformative Research Collaborations“, a landmark initiative launched in July 2023 in Namibia. Developed by major African higher education and scientific organizations, the Charter promotes equitable and sustainable research partnerships by addressing long-standing power imbalances. Its ten guiding principles emphasize mutual benefit, African intellectual traditions, and shared governance,…
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From September 2-5, 2024, the NHNAI International Conference entitled “Human freedom at the test of AI and neurosciences” took place at LUMSA University in Rome, Italy, bringing together over 60 researchers from diverse disciplines. The event, part of the New Humanism at the Time of Neurosciences and Artificial Intelligence (NHNAI) project, focused on the profound impact of AI and neuroscience on human…
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We are pleased to share with you the NHNAI project Press KIT, which marks the completion of this flagship international action-research project on today’s major ethical issues associated with AI and the neurosciences.   The Press KIT features the project’s objectives and approach, its evolution over the last three years, its activities and the results…
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Cardinal Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, addressed to the authorities that attended the Rectors’ meeting held within the framework of the Uniservitate V Global Symposium on November 8, 2024, at the Vatican. The Uniservitate coordinating team is proud to announce that the address has been finally made public in…
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COCTI (the Conference of Catholic Theological Institutions), which is the IFCU International research group bringing together theologians around the world, pursues its commitment to fostering theological research and collaboration within the Catholic academic community. In alignment with its mission to respond to contemporary theological challenges, COCTI is pleased to announce the initiation of a new…
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We are pleased to inform you that the Call for Papers for issue n° 15 of the Journal Educatio, entitled “Talking about God at School? Primary, Secondary and Higher Education“, has been extended.   CIRAD-IFCU, who has recently started a collaboration with Educatio, the scientific journal on Christian education, reminds that the same is open…
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CIRAD is pleased to share a new brief note on the Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education, which established the basic principles of inclusion at school and the main policy changes needed to ensure access and accompaniment of all children, in particular those having special educational needs. This note reminds us…
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We are pleased to share with you the latest news regarding the Conference of Catholic Theological Institutions, named COCTI, an International Research Group in Theology that was founded in 1970 within the framework of our Federation. It is important to note that, as part of a worldwide network of Catholic higher education institutions, COCTI members…
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Within the framework of the recent collaboration between CIRAD and the Journal Educatio, the scientific journal on Christian education, we are glad to announce the call for papers for issue n° 15 entitled “Talking about God at School? Primary, Secondary and Higher Education“. Deadline for submission of publication proposals: 30th August 2024. As a reminder,…
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CIRAD-IFCU had the pleasure to participate in the INQAAHE Forum held at University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania, on 10-12 June 2024 entitled “Transforming Society: Social Responsibility through Quality Assurance of Tertiary Education”. The Forum, which was hosted by the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ARACIS), is the annual meeting point for…
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We are pleased to announce that the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) collaborates with the Summer School (7th-13th July 2024) of the Global Leadership Programme (GPL) led by the Escuela de Gobierno y Liderazgo Isabel la Católica of Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (UFV), Madrid, Spain, in partnership with the Academia Internacional de Líderes Católicos,…
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CIRAD is glad to share with you a new note on the current and future challenges and opportunities that have been identified by and for Spanish Catholic universities. Finding out about the debate carried out these past months and the issues identified may be a source of inspiration for universities located in other countries or…
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On 4-6 April 2024 John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), Lublin, Poland, hosted the 32nd International Conference of ACISE (the IFCU International Research Group – IRG – on Educational sciences) on the topic of “Inspiring Trust“.  The programme of the Conference included a variety of perspectives that linked the notion of trust to pedagogy and, more generally,…
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On April 8, 2024, a delegation from the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) composed of Prof. François Mabille, Secretary General and Dr. Montserrat Alom, CIRAD Director, visited the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Cracow, Poland. The delegation had the opportunity to meet Rector Msgr. Prof. Robert Tyrala, Phd Habilitatus. Msgr. Prof. Tyrala…
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On April 2, 2024, a delegation from the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) composed of Prof. François Mabille, Secretary General and Dr. Montserrat Alom, CIRAD Director, visited Pazmany Peter Catholic University (PPKE) in Budapest, Hungary. The delegation had the opportunity to meet Rector Rev. Mons. Dr. Géza Kuminetz, alongside Vice-Rector Rev. Dr. Krisztián Vincze…
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COCTI, the IFCU International Research group in the field of theology, will organize its General Assembly entitled “Theology in exit” at the Pontificia Università Gregoriana, Rome, Italy, on 27-29 May 2024. The event, which will include official encounters with Vatican bodies and services, as well as an Audience with the Pope at St. Peter’s Square,…
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Website of the Newman Evaluation on University social responsibility: www.rsu-fiuc.org

The 8th International Congress of the IFCU International Research Group (IRG) in Psychology entitled “Psychology and the Psychosocial : Understandings in Context” will take place on March 20-22, 2024, at the Universidad Católica Luis Amigó (FUNLAM), Medellín, Colombia. This meeting responds to the interest of socializing the investigative and psychosocial intervention processes that start from…
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CIRAD is glad to share with you a new note on a current debate that keeps on affecting higher education and research. Indeed, it questions the role of our universities in building more human societies in the spirit of a horizontal dialogue with all the actors in the territories while providing a space to form…
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The annual meeting of the Council for Scientific Research (CSR) took place at IFCU headquarters in Paris last week, 8th February 2024. As a reminder, the Council, which is chaired by Prof. Vercauteren (Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium) and hosted by CIRAD-IFCU, is made up of the presidents (sometimes delegates) from IFCU International research groups…
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We are glad to announce that the 32nd International Conference of ACISE (the IFCU International Research Group – IRG – on Educational sciences) will be held on 4-6 April 2024 at John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), Lublin, Poland, on the topic of “Inspiring Trust“.  The three-year research project on the educational and anthropological foundations of Educating in…
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IFCU has recently launched a new collection of notes on hot topics that affect higher education and research. CIRAD is glad to contribute to this collection by sharing its own vision on trendy issues with members of the university community.   Our first note, which dealt with UNESCO’s Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications…
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The second Newsletter of the NHNAI Project on “New Humanism at the Time of Neurosciences and Artificial Intelligence” coordinated by the Confluence: Sciences and Humanities Research Center of Lyon Catholic University (France), under the aegis of IFCU, has just been released. This Newsletter presents the problem-framing workshops carried out with the participation of internationally recognized…
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Don’t miss the IV UNISERVITATE Global Symposium on the topic “Transformative Service-Learning: Cultivating Students Engagement, Community Partnership, and Spiritual Reflection for Social Change”, to be held on 8-9 November 2023 at De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines. The context of the Philippines entails an opportunity to highlight the multicultural nature of the symposium by strengthening…
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  Last Thursday we had the honour to welcome Prof. Sean O’Connell from Nanzan University (Nagoya, Japan), who offered a lecture entitled “Making the most out of intercultural diversity in the workplace for research and Ph.D. training”. The talk is of great interest to anybody that deals with people from different cultural backgrounds in the…
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“Making the most out of intercultural diversity in the workplace for research and Ph.D. training”Thursday, June 1st 10am Paris time, 5pm Nagoya time Prof. Sean O’CONNELLFull Professor, Faculty of Policy StudiesNanzan University, Japan As workplaces, including research institutions, around the world become increasingly diverse, the need for intercultural communication skills and cultural intelligence has heightened.…
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We would like to sincerely thank Prof. Gregoria Arum Yudarwati from Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta, Indonesia, for addressing the potential of the appreciative inquiry method for research and engagement with communities. As a reminder, Prof. Yudarwati currently lectures at the Communications Department, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of Atma Jaya Yogyakarta University. She has specialized in…
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Website on USR: www.rsu-fiuc.org Contact e-mail: montserrat.alom@bureau.fiuc.org

  One of the International Research Groups of the Federation specialized in the educational sciences, ACISE has initiated a three-year Research project (2023-2026) on the topic “Educating in Trust, Educating for Trust“. The project is being implemented according to three phases: Within the framework of this project, the group organized a two-day Research Seminar at…
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Updates on the International Conference “University as an epicentre for social responsibility: commitment to people and the planet” to be held on 19-21 June 2023 at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto First of all, the dates to submit abstracts have been extended. Here below you will find the updated calendar: Secondly, the host university offers some…
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RESEARCH TALK “Appreciative Inquiry as a Research as well as an Engagement Method with Communities” Prof. Gregoria Arum Yudarwati, S.I.P., M.Mktg.Comm., Ph.DAssociate ProfessorCommunications DepartmentFaculty of Social and Political SciencesUniversitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta, Indonesia April 11th, 20233.00 PM in Yogyakarta (Indonesia)10.00 AM in Paris (France) Prof. Yudarwati will present us the appreciative inquiry technique, which is part…
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We would like to sincerely thank Prof. Rochelle Ge from Saint Joseph University in Macao, SAR, for sharing with us her knowledge on the Chinese model of Government-University-Industry collaborations (the so-called triple helix model). As a reminder, Prof. Ge is a sociologist currently working as the Dean of the School of Education at the University…
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The Universidade Católica Portuguesa at Porto will host the International Conference “University as an epicentre for social responsibility: commitment to people and the planet” between 19 and 21 June 2023. This pioneering event aims to build an innovative and enthusiastic international scientific forum to promote knowledge and discussion among academic staff, teachers and students focused on…
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A new call for papers for the journal EDUCA-International Catholic Journal of Education, number 9 (2023), is open on the theme “Educating Trust, Educating for Trust“. Contemporary societies experience a widespread crisis of trust. Political, economic, scientific, educational and religious institutions are increasingly affected by it. The protests against the vaccination for Covid-19, the abstention…
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Short reflection on the DCS and the intuitions, challenges and opportunities of the synodal process Prof. Dr. Isabel Capeloa Gil President – International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU)              Catholic universities are at the forefront of the Church’s intervention in the world. Their (our) mission is to promote spiritual, intellectual and professional formation of…
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Save the Date!  Understanding Chinese Model of Government-University-Industry Collaborations in Research and Education:The Case of Macau SAR Prof. Rochelle GeUniversity of Saint Joseph, Macau SAR China Wednesday March 1st, 20235.30 PM (Seoul – Tokyo) / 4:30 PM (Macau – Manila) /3.30 PM (Bangkok – Jakarta) / 9.30 AM (Paris) / 12.00 AM (Mumbai) Higher Education…
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COMIUCAP, the scholarly group bringin together philosophers from IFCU universiites around the world, organized its First Online Conference entitled «Refacing Humanity After the Pandemic» on 7-10 December, 2021. The videos of the Presentations that took place during the event, are available by clicking directly on the name of each speaker: Europe|7th& 9th of Dec.|Org.: Prof.…
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As part of its membership in the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) network, Seton Hall University will oversee an intercontinental working group focused on exploring how the Catholic Intellectual Tradition can be integrated into curriculum for all disciplines. Led by Director of Catholic Studies Ines Murzaku, Ph.D., the group will bring together scholars from…
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Saint Paul Institute (SPI) in Cambodia organized a Webinar on 23-24 November 2021 on the topic of achieving social inclusion at the national level, which falls within the disabilities inclusion strand that CIRAD keeps on promoting and developing. More than 100 participants from higher education institutions, NGOs, the national Catholic community, local governmental agencies and…
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