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Cultural diversity is increasingly on the European policy agenda. However, its interdisciplinary feature is not adequately researched and the quest for training offer in this topic is currently left unnoticed. Within this scenario, EURODIV organises a series of five Conferences on the understanding of cultural diversity in Europe…

Cultural diversity is increasingly on the European policy agenda. However, its interdisciplinary feature is not adequately researched and the quest for training offer in this topic is currently left unnoticed. Within this scenario, EURODIV organises a series of five Conferences on the understanding of cultural diversity in Europe and on the ways of dealing with it and its dynamics in the globalisation era. Under the co-ordination of FEEM, EURODIV offers a unique training platform targeted primarily to young researchers. 

Two wide Conferences and three thematic Conferences are envisaged, each focusing on a specific research topic:

  • Understanding diversity (local organiser: FEEM);
  • Qualitative diversity research: Looking ahead (local organiser: K.U.Leuven);
  • Diversity in cities: visible and invisible walls (local organiser: UCL);
  • Diversity in cities: new models of governance (local organiser: IPRS);
  • Dynamics of diversity in the globalisation era (local organiser: FEEM).

The 1st Conference “Understanding diversity: Mapping and measuring” was organised by FEEM Milan on 26-27 January 2006. It focused on empirical research and on the challenge of mapping, measuring and comparing diversity within and across countries, regions, cities or institutions and organisations. 

The 2nd Conference “Qualitative diversity research: Looking ahead” was organised by K.U.Leuven in Leuven on 19-20 September 2006. It studied both the state and private organizations as places that need to find appropriate and effective ways to understand and deal with diversity. Researchers were called to make sense of diversity and provide research to support public and private action. 

The 3rd Conference “Diversity in cities: Visible and invisible walls” was organised by the University College London (UCL) in London on 11-12 September 2007. Focusing on cities, it studied the interaction between urban space, the dynamics of identity formation, the construction of cross-cultural relationships and the emergence of cultural dialogue. 

The 4th Conference “Diversity in Cities: New Models of Governance” was organised by the Psychoanalytic Institute for Social Research (IPRS) in Rome on 16-17 September 2008. It looked at the governance of diversity by public bodies and local government with emphasis on the potential for city governance to contribute to the sustainability of diversity.

The 5th Conference "Dynamics of Diversity in a Globalisation Era" was organised by FEEM in Milano on 22-23 October 2009. The Conference studied the dynamics of local cultures in response to growing international exchanges of people, goods and ideas (and vice-versa) and its implication for economic and social cohesion.

The "Research Manifesto" Workshop was organised by FEEM and UCL in London on 7 December 2009. This final event aimed at discussing the first draft of the Research Manifesto on Diversity and Sustainable Development".