The ICCS Inter-Sessional Event, titled “Inspiring Cohesive and Resilient Societies”, is designed to maintain momentum between the larger International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS). This gathering, scheduled for 24 to 26 September 2024, will bring together approximately 100 religious and community practitioners, academics, researchers, and policymakers from around the world. The Inter-Sessional Event aims to deepen our understanding of social cohesion challenges, share best practices, and develop potential solutions. Participants can look forward to a series of lectures, panel discussions, skills workshops, breakout sessions, and opportunities for networking and community engagement.

Programme Overview

Day 1

In Conversation with Guest Speaker

“Harmony Across Cultures – Unveiling Global Social Cohesion Trends” 

This keynote speech explores emerging global trends impacting plural societies. Drawing from cross-country comparative studies, it highlights common challenges arising from increasing diversity worldwide. Additionally, it examines seemingly contradictory trends, such as the simultaneous rise of non-religion and growing religiosity, offering insights into the understanding and interpretation of these trends. The session concludes with an interactive conversation to delve deeper into these themes. By the end of this session, delegates will have a broad overview of the major trends emerging in plural societies today.

Speaker

• Dr Richard Wike 
  Director, Global Attitudes Research, Pew Research Center

Moderator

• Mr Sujadi Siswo
  Chief Editor, Malay News Head, Malay Community Engagement, Mediacorp

Day 2

In Conversation with Guest Speaker

“Inclusive Unity – Addressing Challenges to Social Cohesion in Plural Societies” 

This address by Prof Mona Siddiqui explores the key challenges of fostering social cohesion in multicultural societies.  Drawing upon her extensive body of work in Islamic studies and inter-religious relations, she examines the broad key drivers leading to societal division and polarisation in contemporary plural societies. Using both regional and global examples, she then illustrates the ways various factors have interacted and intersected to cause fissures and divides in multicultural contexts. The conversation after the session considers possible means to alleviate such divisions. After this session, it is hoped that delegates will have a nuanced comprehension of the ways divides evolve in multicultural societies.

Speaker

• Prof Mona Siddiqui
  Professor of Islamic and Inter-religious Studies, Assistant Principal for Religion and Society, University of Edinburgh

Moderator

• Dr Leong Chan-Hoong
  Senior Fellow and Head of Social Cohesion Research Programme, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University

Skills Workshop

“Futures Planning – Understanding Community Dynamics”

In the first skills workshop, delegates will be introduced to the concept of futures planning. Ms. Cheryl Chung and her team of facilitators will provide foundational knowledge and guide delegates through a futures planning exercise. Using this framework, delegates will engage in breakout discussions to assess the current landscape and identify critical emerging issues for social cohesion. These activities will help delegates contextualise the discussions from previous lectures and panel sessions. It is hoped that delegates will be able to apply the concept of futures planning in the work they are engaged in within their respective communities.

Facilitators

• Ms Cheryl Chung, Ms Farah Sanwari, Mr Lewis Liu, Ms Lin Chin

Panel Discussion

“Identifying Causes of Social Division and Exclusion” 

This panel delves further into the potential causes for societal division, such as race and religion, migration, rising polarisation etcetera. As a former diplomat who has represented Singapore at various non-governmental organisations and a specialist in negotiation and conflict resolution, Ms Wu Ye-Min will speak about the sources of divisions societies and regions are faced with. With the experience he has gathered as the Chief Coordinator of the Inter-religious Organisation (IRO) youth wing, Mr Shukul Raaj Kumar then explores the fissures affecting youth communities along with the challenges experienced by them today. The panel concludes by discussing how these divides might evolve with time. Through this panel, delegates will have a comprehensive understanding of the fissures and tensions present both at the global and local level, along with specific challenges experienced by youths.​

Speakers

• Ms Wu Ye-Min
  Regional Director, South and Southeast Asia, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue
• Mr Shukul Raaj Kumar
  Chief Coordinator of the Inter-religious Organisation (IRO) Youth Wing​​

Moderator

• Dr Paul Hedges
  Professor of Inter-religious Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University

Day 3

Panel Discussion

“Building Bridges – Best Practices of Social Cohesion” 

This panel examines the best practices for building mutual understanding amongst diverse communities. Drawing upon his expertise in community psychology, Prof Toshiaki Sasao sheds light on ways community well-being can be cultivated and improved. Similarly, Dr Selvaraj Velayutham, whose work explores multiculturalism, expands upon the practice of everyday conviviality and demonstrates how it can strengthen social cohesion in plural societies. In closing, the panelists reflect on the means for bridges across divides to be built in contemporary plural societies. By the end of this session, it is hoped that delegates will be inspired by the best practices that were shared. ​​

Speakers

• Prof Toshiaki Sasao ​
  Professor of Psychology, Education and Peace Studies, International Christian University
• Dr Selvaraj Velayutham
  Associate Professor of Sociology, Macquarie School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University​​

Moderator

• Ms Li Xueying 
  Foreign Editor, The Straits Times

Skills Workshop

“Conflict Negotiation – Mediating Divides”

In the second skills workshop, delegates will be introduced to conflict negotiation. Ms Wu, Ms Suphaphong, and Mr Rigden will provide a broad overview of conflict resolution principles and guide delegates through multiple conflict negotiation simulations. Using the P.I.N. framework, the workshop will help delegates understand and address the deeper issues that drive arguments and conflict, offering strategies to correct misunderstandings effectively. It is hoped that delegates will be equipped with conflict negotiation skills that they can then utilise to mediate tensions that they encounter in the future.​

Facilitators

• Ms Wu Ye-Min, Ms Theerada (Jan) Suphaphong, Mr Ian Alexander Rigden