The PCSDC program at Cairo University focuses on the relationship between civilizations as an important and essential response to the challenges that are facing Arab and Islamic circles at the dawn of the new century. Such challenges should be tackled in an organized scientific way that fulfills the targets of both academic research and political action. This Program seeks to create awareness of Arab and Muslim civilizational heritages and others' civilizations and cultures. Moreover, it strives to develop an internal Arab and Islamic discourse.

The Program does not adopt an apologetic or defensive attitude but is occupied with discerning the characteristics of each civilization and taking the initiative toward establishing intra- and inter-civilizational dialogue and promoting research in the field of civilizational studies.