Singaporean delegation visits Hedayah centre for countering extremism

ABU DHABI, 27th July, 2015 (WAM) -- A research delegation from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, has visited Hedayah, the International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism, CVE, to learn about the centre's unique role in countering violent extremism. The visiting delegation was headed by Dr. Ooi Kee Beng, Deputy Director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, who was also accompanied by Shaun Phillip Grosse, Deputy Chief of Mission, from the Singaporean Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Maqsoud Kruse, the Executive Director of Hedayah, welcomed the visitors and briefed them on CVE’s goals, mission, and vision, as well as the centre's role in countering violent extremism especially through the current status regionally and globally. Mr Kruse reiterated the importance of partnership between Hedayah and the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies as well as the mutual aspects of collaboration in research and analysis, training and capacity building in Southeast Asia. Dr. Beng commended Hedayah for its leading role in contributing effectively to the international community’s prevention efforts of violent extremism targeting all community groups at all levels and fields. Dr. Beng also expressed his wish to collaborate with Hedayah particularly on its cultural diplomacy initiatives to counter violent extremism and radicalisation. Such initiatives focuses on providing youth with positive and proactive alternatives through cultural and intellectual programmes which aim to protect young people from the risk of falling into violent extremism. During the meeting, participants discussed outcomes of many important initiatives implemented by Hedayah, including the "Abu Dhabi Memorandum on Good Practices for Education and Countering Violent Extremism", that highlights the crucial role of developing critical thinking skills and boosting a culture of innovation and creativity in the educational settings, "CVE Research Conference 2014", which resulted in producing several research papers and applied and conceptual scientific studies, and the "Global Threat Assessment Report 2015", which focuses on CVE-related threats in Southeast Asia in particular. – Emirates News Agency, WAM –http://www.wam.ae/en/news/general/1395283661552.html