Dr. Gray, Dean of the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Liberia, is in Beijing, China for a five-day International Conference to commemorate the 2575th Anniversary of Confucius’ Birth and the 7th Congress of the International Confucian Association. The 2024 International Conference kicked off at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Saturday, 19 October 2024.
During the Congress and Council Meeting on Saturday, the President, Executive Vice President, Vice Presidents, Council Chair, Vice Council Chairs, and Executive Committee Representatives of the International Confucian Association were unanimously elected for five-year term in office. Africa’s representatives include four from West Africa, five from North Africa, three from East and Southern Africa and five from North Africa, respectively.
The five-day event has brought together an esteemed gathering of renowned global professors, experts, scholars and academics, representing 120 countries from various continents and nations, including Asia, Africa, Europe, Caribbean, Central America, North America, Oceania, South America and Middle East. The opening address was delivered by the former prime Minister of Japan, Mr. FukudaYasuo while other key speakers include Massima D’Alema, former prime Minister of Italy;Mr. jean-Pierre Raffain, former prime Minister of France; Mr. Vincent Meriton, former vice President of Seychelles; Mr. Phinij Jarusombat, former Deputy prime Minister of Cambodia; Mr. Qu Xing, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO and the Chinese National Leader, among others.
This is Dr. Gray’s third time that he has attended the Congress and Council Meeting of the International Confucian Association held in Beijing, China and Rabat, Morocco, and Meeting of China-Africa Think Tanks Forum in Beijing. During the Think Tank Forum in Beijing and International Confucius Forum in Rabat, Dr. Gray delivered the 4th address of the First Plenary Session on the theme: “China and Africa Countries’ Independent Exploration of Development Paths: Experience and Inspiration”. While at the 2021 China-Africa Think Tanks Forum in Beijing, Prof. Gray presented paper on the theme: “Building a Community of Shared Future for all Mankind and a New Era of Sustaining Peace and Economic Growth in Africa.”
Although Confucianism originated in China, it has long transcended national boundaries and has become a global culture, playing an important role in driving the development and progress of human civilization. The specific work of the ICA includes: organizing international academic conferences and lectures; carrying out academic research; integrating academic information and resources; promoting the exchange of ideas and sharing experiences in the popularization of Confucianism; advancing education and faculty training in Confucianism; publishing academic works, periodicals and popular books; promoting friendly international exchanges and cooperation; raising funds for international Confucian studies; and exploring other undertakings conducive to the development of Confucianism
After coming into being in China, Confucianism soon spread throughout Northeast and Southeast Asia and around the globe through assimilation and integration with existing cultures, Confucianism took on distinctive local features and had a tremendous and valuable impact on local politics, the economy, and culture. It had once become the guiding thought in governance on the Korean Peninsula, and in Japan, Vietnam and other countries and regions.
As an international academic and cultural organization, the ICA is a community of Confucian societies and scholars. With the purpose of “studying and carrying forward Confucian thought in order to push for the freedom and equality of mankind and the peaceful development and lasting prosperity of the world,” the ICA strives to unite Confucian societies, scholars and professionals to boost the study, dissemination, popularization, and application of Confucianism in the international community.
From the later medieval age on, Confucianism and Chinese civilization were introduced into Europe by Chinese and Europeans traveling to each other’s countries. Missionaries of the Society of Jesus who had stayed in China returned to Europe, introducing and advocating Confucianism and other Chinese ancient books and records, which exerted significant influence on the philosophical and cultural communities of Europe. Between the 16th and 18th century, a “Chinese Culture Wave” swept Europe.
Since its founding 20 years ago, the ICA has been carrying out the study and dissemination of Confucian thought, all the while promoting the practical use of Confucianism together with Confucian societies, scholars, and professionals worldwide. With its growing influence, the ICA has become an established international academic authority.
Professor Dr. Josephus M. Gray, who was appointed in January 2020 as Dean of the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Liberia, has a rich history of leadership within the university, including serving as President of UL Student Press Club, Part-time Faculty, Instructor, Assistant Professor and now Associate Professor. He continues to make immense contributions to UL’s academic community as an Associate Professor of International Relations, IBB Graduate Program of International Studies. He is a native born Liberian, hails from the Southeastern Village of Kayken, Barclayville District in Grand Kru County, Republic of Liberia.
At the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, he taught research methods courses in several departments including the Departments of Political Science, Communication and Media Studies, Social Science and English and Language Studies, as well as teaching, research, publication and capacity building. His extensive leadership roles have included Dean of the ACS College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Chairman, Council of Deans, University of Liberia, Co-chairman of the Grand Kru Technical College and Member of the Professor Amos C. Sawyer Educational Foundation; Sharda University in India Ambassador to Liberia and Sharda University Coordinator for West Africa and Member of the International Confucian Association and Acting President Grand Kru Technical College.
He has achieved the highest level of academic mastery in his chosen academic field including a Ph.D. (distinction) in International Relations and Diplomacy from the HELP-CEDS University in Paris, Republic of France. The theme of his 580-page doctoral dissertation “The Effect of Diplomacy” was successfully defended for two hours in the presence of four academics jury of an astute French professors: (1)Prof. Dr. Faund NOHRA, Associate Professor at Paris Dscartes University; Prof. Dr. Souha AKIKI, President of Paris Graduate School/ Innovative Knowledge Institute;, Dr. Prof. Michael STRAUSS, Advisor to the UN Special Rapporteur on Unilateral Coercive Measures and Human Rights and Dr. Prof. Michael LEBEDEV, Senior Diploma at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Mr. Yatay Tuoway, former Vice President of Liberian Association in France and resident of Paris was extended invitation by the university to attend the dissertation defense exercise. Dr. further holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Bachelor’s Degree in Communication (Print Journalism) from the University of Liberia.
At the public sector level, Dr. Gray has held positions such as Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia, Assistant Foreign Minister for Public Affairs and Diplomacy; Political Counselor, Embassy of Liberia in Paris, France, and Minister Counsellor and Charge D’ Affairs, Liberia Permanent Mission to the Swiss Federation and the United Nations in Geneva and other International Organizations. At other levels, he earned diplomas and certificates in foreign policy Studies, international relations, diplomacy, print journalism, development communication, research methodology, and leadership from Paris, France; Genera, Switzerland; Beijing, China; Washington, D.C., USA; Cape Town, South Africa; Rabat, Morocco; Accra, Ghana; Dakar, Senegal and Monrovia, Liberia.
He has wildly written and published over 300 per-reviewed articles in local and international journals and three books. His recent book characterizes the existing relationships among Liberia, China and the United States of America as “triangular, and is on sale in 160 countries across the world. The book is reproduced in several languages including French, Italian, Chinese, and Spanish. His Master’s Thesis: “The Consequences of the Liberian Civil War was supervised Sarr Abdulai Vandi, former Director, IBB Graduate School while his BA Mass Communication Undergraduate’s Thesis: The Impact of Print Media on Democracy in Liberia is thesis supervised by Prof. Joe W. Mulbah, former Chair, Department of Mass Communication.
Dr. Gray holds advanced certificate in Modern Journalism (2006), ICFJ, Washington, D.C. USA; Diploma in Modern Diplomacy, (2008), Chinese Foreign Affairs University, Beijing, China; Certificate in Practical Research (2017), Bibliotheque International Library, Paris, France and Certificate Program: Digital Journalism (2006) World Newspaper Editors Forum. Cape Town, South Africa. In the area of pre-reviewed publications, Dr. Gray has authored: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Impact of ELearning at the University of Liberia; Analysis of the Similarities and Disparities: the tale of Liberian Press and Global Media practices; Analysis of the Impact and Intricacies of Liberian Foreign policy and international Relations over the last 75 years;
Comparison and Contrast of China and Liberia’s Contemporary Global Status: Analysis of CPC’s Scientific Theories Democratic Governance and National Development in Post-war Liberia; The Effect of Diplomacy: Liberia, US, China’s Triangular Relations. Others include: The Consequences of the Unforgotten Liberian Civil War; The Tale of Violence against Liberian Media: The Curse of bad Governance and Rampant corruption in Africa and China and African Countries independent Exploration of Development Path While his books include: Liberia’s Emerging Democracy: published in Paris, France 2012 and Effect of Diplomacy, published 2021 by Amazon, Washington State, USA. While his contributions to book chapters include: The New Dimension: Beijing Influence in Liberia and Analysis of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and its Impact on Liberia’s Infrastructure Development.
Prof. Gray holds membership in reputable professional journals such as: International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Sciences (IJROSS), International Research Journal of Public and Environmental Health and Academia.edu located on 580 California St, Suite 400, San Francisco, USA.
He is a member of the Africa-China Think Tanks Forum, Beijing, People’s Republic pf China and Council member of the International Confucian Institute, headquarters in Beijing, China. Dr. Gray also supervised about 44 graduates of IBB Graduate Program of International Studies theses from 2018-2021. Also, supervised three graduates from the graduate Program in Education thesis in 2019-2020 academic year as well as two BA thesis from African Methodist University and United Methodist University in 2020-2021 academic year.
