The International Center for Research and Decision Support (CIRAD in French) is one of the main services of the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU). Its mission consists of promoting interuniversity and multidisciplinary research within the framework of international cooperation. Aware of the concerns, interests and expectations of Catholic Universities and their respective fields of action, it offers a platform for encounter, debate, production and circulation of knowledge, in order to permanently question the main challenges posed today to human, scientific, social and ecclesial development.
Note: the next Congress of IFCU will be held at Boston College (picture of the library at right) in the summer of 2022.
Since 1975 the Center has promoted numerous cooperation activities all over the world with the institutions that are part of the Federation’s international network. Innovative initiatives and topics have found their place alongside more traditional projects. Training and education have always been at the heart of our concerns but, during all these years, we have carried out projects in a wide range of fields, including human mobility (migrations, displacements), social issues (addictions, families at risk, social inclusion), environmental challenges (soil fertilization, water management), poverty reduction, human rights and peace building, dialogue between culture and religion.
The center maintains a blog whose purposes are multiple. We wish both to report on the activities and dynamics of the CIRAD, to value the research work and projects carried out by IFCU member universities in collaboration with the Center, and its research groups, and to create a space for reflection both for the CIRAD team and the contributors affiliated to IFCU. By focusing on prospective and innovative approaches, we intend to lead and coordinate projects identified in four thematic hubs (“Education“, “Youth and Societies“, “States and Ideologies” and “Social and Health Issues“), in order to encourage cooperation, exchange of good practices and their promotion throughout the world.
