Pluriel

University platform for research on Islam

Initiated by
the Federation
of European
Catholic
Universities

Supported by
the International
Federation
of Catholic
Universities

Plateforme universitaire de recherche sur l'Islam

Will the Congress ‘Islam and Otherness’ be held in Beirut or online ?

The 3rd Pluriel International Congress, on the theme ‘Islam and Otherness’ was scheduled to be held in April 2020 in Beirut. It was postponed for a year because of the lockdown measures then raging in many countries. It is scheduled to take place from April 13 to 16, 2021, in Beirut, with the same programme.

Situation in Lebanon

PLURIEL Coordinator, Michel Younès, visited our academic partners in Lebanon at the end of October 2020: Saint Joseph University and La Sagesse University. It appears to him that the country remains in a stable security state but suffers from a monetary crisis which complicates the organization of events by local institutions. In this context, the hosting of the 3rd Pluriel Congress is expected and seen as an encouraging sign for the Lebanese academic world.

Covid-19 pandemic

We are also aware of the difficulties of engagement of each because of the varying restrictions on travel, and the impossibility of predicting what the epidemic situation will be next spring in the various countries of origin of the speakers and participants.

3 options

Based on these considerations, we are currently considering the following 3 options:

Face-to-face: Keep the congress face-to-face in Beirut as planned, while allowing the possibility for some speakers to provide their speech in pre-recorded video format. (it doesn’t have to be the majority)
Mixed Face-to-Face / Virtual: Keep the congress face-to-face in Beirut and double it with the possibility of intervening and following it live remotely. (subject to technical and financial feasibility).
Virtual: Organize the congress entirely online, probably from UCLy (Lyon). (possible reorganization of the program)

In Beirut : Keep the congress face-to-face in Beirut as planned, while allowing the possibility for some speakers to provide their speech in pre-recorded video format. (it doesn’t have to be the majority)
Mixed Beirut / Virtual: Keep the congress face-to-face in Beirut and double it with the possibility of intervening and following it live remotely. (subject to technical and financial feasibility).
Virtual: Organize the congress entirely online, probably from UCLy (Lyon). (possible reorganization of the program)

These three options are currently being studied and will be deliberated by the Pluriel coordination committee at the end of November. We will then keep you informed of the decision.
If you wish to share your opinion with us in the context of this reflection, you can write to us at pluriel@univ-catholyon.fr

These three options are currently being studied and will be deliberated by the Pluriel coordination committee at the end of November. We will then keep you informed of the decision.
If you wish to share your opinion with us in the context of this reflection, you can write to us at pluriel@univ-catholyon.fr

Le 3ème congrès international de Pluriel, sur le thème “Islam et altérité” était prévu pour se tenir en Avril 2020 à Beyrouth. Il a été reporté d’un an à cause des mesures sanitaires qui sévissait alors dans de nombreux pays . Il est prévu de se dérouler du 13 au 16 avril 2021, à Beyrouth, dans les mêmes conditions.

Situation au Liban

Le coordinateur de PLURIEL, Michel Younès, a rendu visite fin octobre 2020 à nos partenaires académiques au Liban : l’Université Saint Joseph et l’Université La Sagesse. A son appréciation, le pays se maintient dans un état sécuritaire stable mais souffre d’une crise monétaire qui complique l’organisation d’événement. Dans ce contexte l’accueil du 3ème Congrès de Pluriel est attendue et perçue comme un signe encourageant pour le milieu académique.

Situation sanitaire

Nous sommes également conscients des difficultés d’engagement de chacun à causes des restrictions variables sur les déplacements, et l’impossibilité de prédire quelle sera la situation sanitaire au printemps prochain dans les divers pays d’origine des intervenants et des participants.

3 options

Partant de ces considérations, nous envisageons actuellement les 3 options suivantes :

  • Présentiel : Maintenir le congrès en présentiel à Beyrouth comme prévu, tout en permettant la possibilité pour certains intervenants de fournir leur intervention sous format vidéo pré-enregistrée. (cela ne doit pas être la majorité)
  • Mixte Présentiel / Virtuel : Maintenir le congrès en présentiel à Beyrouth et le doubler d’une possibilité d’intervenir et de le suivre en direct à distance. (sous-réserve de faisabilité technique et financière).
  • Virtuel : Organiser le congrès intégralement en ligne, probablement depuis l’UCLy (Lyon). (possible réorganisation du programme)

Ces trois options sont actuellement étudiées et seront délibérées par le comité de coordination de Pluriel fin novembre. Nous vous tiendrons alors informés de la décision.
Si vous souhaitez nous faire part de votre avis dans le cadre de cette réflexion, vous pouvez nous écrire à pluriel@univ-catholyon.fr

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