The Ikeda Studies Centre Opens at Université Laval
Commemorative photo on the inauguration of The Ikeda Studies Centre. (Université Laval Rector D’Amours, foreground, center; SGI-Canada General Director Tony Meers, foreground, right; and other faculty and students)
On April 19, 2022, Université Laval in Québec, Canada, inaugurated the Ikeda Studies Centre for Education in Global Citizenship, Dialogue and Peace (French title: Centre d’études Ikeda pour l’éducation à la citoyenneté globale, au dialogue et à la paix). This is the first such center in the French-speaking world.
Rector Sophie D’Amours opened the ceremony, explaining that in May 2010, former Rector Denis Brière led a delegation to Japan to confer an honorary doctorate on Daisaku Ikeda, and a memorandum of understanding was signed between Université Laval and Soka University at that time.
In a message, Mr. Ikeda described the university as a beacon of humanistic education and spoke of the necessity of dialogue for transcending differences. The Centre—in its pursuit of global citizenship, dialogue and peace—embodies the power of hope inherent in education for prevailing over violence and division, particularly at this vital juncture in human history, he said.
Inauguration of the Ikeda Studies Centre for Education in Global Citizenship, Dialogue and Peace at Université Laval, which included research presentations by representative students based on Mr. Ikeda’s works.
Dr. Fernand Gervais, dean of the Faculty of Education, spoke on behalf of the three deans leading the Centre, the other two being Dr. Guillaume Pinson, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, and Dr. Guy Jobin, dean of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Sciences.
Min-On
Research Institute Director Olivier Urbain delivered the keynote address, while
Mr. Mikiya Takanashi, General Director of the Makiguchi Foundation for
Education, delivered greetings and congratulations. Both speakers presented
online from Japan.
Founded in
1663, Université Laval, is the oldest French language university in North
America. The Centre offers an undergraduate course centered on the ideals of
global citizenship, dialogue and peace and drawing on the ideas and works of
Mr. Ikeda. The first course began in January of this year, led by Dr. Vincent
Fauque. Three of his students made presentations at the ceremony.
[Adapted
from an article in the April 22, 2022, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, Soka Gakkai, Japan]
