INSTITUTE NAMES MULTICULTURAL AWARD WINNERS

15th August 2005

A new award scheme that recognises the efforts of organisations and individuals to build a more multicultural society in Scotland announced its first set winners in Dundee yesterday.



The awards were instigated by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Deputy Ruler of Dubai and developed through Dundee’s Al-Maktoum Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies.



The winners were presented with a locally made engraved glass award, a cash prize and a certificate at a special ceremony held in the Apex Hotel.



The scheme was launched last year with the support of the Scottish Executive’s One Scotland campaign.



The first winners of the Al-Maktoum Awards for Multicultural Scotland are:



* Award for multicultural healthcare – NHS Fife



* Award for multicultural education – Eastwood High School, Newton Mearns.



* Award for multiculturalism in the media – Channel 4 Television



* Award for civilisational dialogue – The Scottish Interfaith Council



* Award for Scottish-Emirates relations – Zayed University, UAE



* Award for Arab British understanding – the Council for Arab British Understanding (CABBU) London



* Exceptional award for multicultural healthcare – National Centre for Ethnic Minority Health, Glasgow.



Mirza Al-Sayegh, chairman of the Al-Maktoum institute board, who was representing Shaikh Hamdan, presented the awards along with MSP Margaret Curran.



Congratulating the winners, Lord Elder, chancellor of the institute said, “Multiculturalism is at the heart of the work of the Al-Maktoum Institute and we seek to implement an agenda for encouraging the development of cross-cultural understanding and to build bridges between communities both at the local and the international level.



“At this time, more than ever, multiculturalism is very important.”



In his remarks Mr Al-Sayegh said that Shaikh Hamdan was “passionate” about building greater understanding between the Arab and Muslim worlds and the West through practical steps.



The Al-Maktoum Institute had been located in Dundee as park of Shaikh Hamdan’s desire to help build a better world and to establish strong links between Dubai and Scotland in areas such as education, culture, business, science and medicine among others.



Mr al-Sayegh announced that Dubai would be sending a trade mission to Scotland later this year and that in November the Al-Maktoum Institute would be host to an international conference of academics in Dubai drawn from their 14 partner universities across the world to discuss further ways to implement multiculturalism.



Mr Al-Sayegh added, “Shaikh Hamdan is pleased with the development of the relationship between Scotland and Dubai.



“There remains a lot to do but we are greatly encouraged by the commitment of Scotland’s leaders to the establishment of two-way traffic in trade and business links, cultural and academic exchange.



“In this present time there is even greater need for the work of Al-Maktoum Institute. It is clear that our central aim of multiculturalism is the right and the only way in which we can go forward."