KAICIID, stands for the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, is an intergovernmental organization established in 2012 with the support of Saudi Arabia, Austria and Spain, with the Holy See as a founding observer. Its mission is to foster dialogue between people of different religious and cultural backgrounds, with the aim of promoting mutual understanding, respect, and peaceful coexistence.

Supported by the 2024 KAICIID Micro Grant, this initiative aims to highlight the transformative impact of IRD over the past decade in countries often marked by ethno-religious tensions, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia. The program emphasizes the role of dialogue in building positive human relationships and celebrating religious diversity.

“IRD has proven to be a critical tool for conflict prevention and resolution in several parts of Asia,” said Dr. Ridwan. “This celebration at UIII is an opportunity not only to honor a decade of regional efforts but also to amplify the university’s role in promoting moderate Islam and peacebuilding through global engagement, particularly in Southeast Asia.”

Set to take place in June 2025 at UIII’s Faculty of Social Sciences (FOSS), the celebration will feature an International IRD Conference that will bring together KAICIID fellows, peacebuilding stakeholders, and special guest speakers from across the SEA region, aimed to be a platform for intellectual exchange and networking. Prior to that, three webinar sessions will be held as the pre-conference series, discussing topics on ‘Women and Youth for Peace’, ‘Social Media for Peace’, and ‘Best Practices for Peacebuilding in the Region’.

“Another significant feature from the celebration is KAICIID’s curriculum review, and this will be followed by post-conference publication by launching a book compiling papers presented at the IRD conference,” said Dr. Ridwan.

Dr. Ridwan hopes the program will not only highlight UIII as a hub for peace and Islamic moderation but also engage local faculty and students in meaningful ways. “We want UIII to be recognized as a university that contributes to peacebuilding internationally, particularly Southeast Asia,” he said.

This regional celebration marks the growing importance of IRD as a strategic response to religious conflict and a tool for nurturing inclusive societies. It aligns with UIII’s mission to promote moderate Islam, encourage dialogue between different cultures and religions, and contribute to peace through education and research. By hosting this event, UIII is strengthening its role as a center for peacebuilding in Southeast Asia and beyond.