What should higher education develop in a person?
Knowledge and professional competence, certainly. But education may carry another responsibility: helping people understand themselves, understand others, and live responsibly in a diverse world.
That conviction is part of why Swiss Institute of Management and Sciences (SIMS) is proud to partner with Global Interfaith University (GIU).
A different kind of learning
GIU focuses on an area that matters more with every year of global interconnection: religious literacy and constructive dialogue across faith communities. Its approach goes well beyond studying religious traditions. It emphasises experiential learning, empathy, intercultural competence, and the ability to engage respectfully with views unlike our own. Its academic work also reaches into peace and conflict studies, including conflict resolution, peace education and the psychology of peace.
For SIMS, this opens a compelling field for further exploration.
Mindfulness as a field of inquiry
We are not interested in mindfulness as a passing trend, or simply as a wellness practice. We see it as an area of serious inquiry into awareness, attention, emotional regulation, empathy, responsible leadership, and how people relate to one another.
GIU's work in spiritual psychology already examines the links between inner development, psychological well-being, compassion and mindfulness. Its Global Interfaith Ambassador initiative then turns understanding into practice, building skills in dialogue, ethical leadership, conflict resolution and community engagement.
This raises a question worth asking of both institutions: if education is meant to prepare people to build better organisations and societies, shouldn't it also help them become more aware of themselves and of the people around them?
The sustainability connection
The question gains weight when viewed through sustainable development. GIU is a member of the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI), an international platform supported by UN entities and the academic community to advance sustainability through education, research, engagement and institutional practice. It is also an institutional member of the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS).
For SIMS, this reflects a broader view of sustainability. It is not only about environmental responsibility. It is also about how people think, lead, communicate, coexist and make decisions. Education can help shape individuals and communities that are more reflective, respectful and resilient, and better able to engage with difference.
Where this partnership leads
Together, SIMS and GIU can explore the intersection of: Education × Mindfulness × Morality
This partnership is not simply about adding another name to an international network. It is about asking better questions of what education should achieve, and about how academic collaboration can contribute to a more conscious, respectful and sustainable society.
Swiss Quality. Global Perspective.
