The Dialogue Institute, together with the International Center for Contemporary Education (ICCE), has been selected by the U.S. State Department, through its Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, to conduct five-week programs on Religious Pluralism in America for undergraduate student leaders from the Middle East and from Indonesia. This program is one of several “Study of the U.S. Institutes” offered to students of diverse cultural backgrounds, to introduce them to the principles and practices of American democracy through the lens of a particular topic, in this case, religious diversity.

The program’s objectives are to:

• Advance comprehension of democracy and religious liberty in the United States;
• Deepen knowledge of the key structures and ideas in U.S. society that have created the context for religious pluralism;
• Expand understanding of different religious traditions, and foster appreciation for the strengths and complexities of a religiously pluralist society;
• Identify and guide learning of the principles, values, and practices of  interfaith dialogue;
• Develop students’ capacity for leadership in their home contexts; and
• Offer students opportunities to learn and grow through significant engagement with American citizens of diverse backgrounds and interests. 

DI and ICCE staff conduct this 5-week residential program at Temple University in Philadelphia and via study tours to New York City,the Mid-Atlantic States, and other areas of interest, concluding with several days in Washington, DC. The program integrates lectures, interactive workshops, site visits, panel presentations, media training, volunteer service opportunities, cultural events, and dialogue with American counterparts to create a comprehensive enrichment experience for these student leaders. The focus of the program’s leadership development component is to encourage and empower students to create action plans related to religious pluralism, and to implement these plans in their home countries and various religious communities.