Tuesday 3 July

In central Istanbul stands the Milestone - the point from which the Romans measured the distances to the ends of their empire. Our visit to Istanbul, to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation with Fatih University and explore ways in which we might work with the Gulen civil movement, committed to interfaith dialogue, is a Milestone for Leeds Met - our first Turkish partnership. Fatih is the embodiment of a University living out its values within a clear ethical framework. But what really marked our visit was the quality of the dialogue. Dialogue with generous families who opened their homes and hearts to us. Dialogue with writers, academics, journalists, our Gulen Community hosts who were graciousness itself and with the Vatican Ambassador for the Catholic Church in Istanbul. All reaching out to build trust between the great faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

Trust provides a springboard for action and courage to venture into unfamiliar territory geographically and spiritually to find enrichment, common values and through challenge, an affirmation of our own. We also saw a Roman pillar in Ephesus, marked with the word Arete - Excellence. If Excellence becomes our Milestone for the Fatih and Gulen partnerships, our dialogue will indeed be vindicated.

Professor Anne Gregory
Director,Centre for Public Relation Studies
Leeds Business School.