Fifty-five faculty from twelve countries around the world attended the eleventh annual Summer Institute (SI) for Faculty at the University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies from June 10-14th. The SI is a week-long training for individuals who want to launch or strengthen peace studies programs at their colleges, universities, high schools, and organizations.
This year’s SI drew attendees from 24 colleges, universities, and peacebuilding organizations. In addition, eight participants from Hekima Institute for Peace Studies and International Relations at Hekima College in Nairobi, Kenya, joined the SI via livestream on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.
Each year, higher education institutions and peacebuilding organizations are invited to send individuals or teams of professors, administrators and researchers for an intensive learning experience at the SI.
Faculty and staff members led sessions that focused on topics such as intersectionality, the connection between peace and climate change, restorative justice, the transition from conflict resolution to conflict transformation, and the Madrasa Discourses program engagement in South Asia.
Attendees participated in plenary sessions in the morning and then work as a team on a previously identified project or challenge facing their own institution during afternoon sessions.Kroc faculty members met with the teams to provide guidance and input when needed.
Institutions represented at this year’s SI event included:
- Claremont Graduate University
- Concordia University Chicago
- DePaul University
- German Development Services
- Gordon College
- Jönköping International Business School
- Lewis University
- Lincoln High School
- Mindanao State University
- Multnomah University
- National Open University of Nigeria
- North American Division of Seventh-Day Adventists
- North Park University
- Petra Christian University
- Seattle Preparatory School
- Seoul National University
- Southwestern University
- St. John Fisher College
- St. John’s Prep
- Universidad Central del Ecuador
- The Wájaro Foundation
- Tribhuvan University
- Washington & Jefferson College
- Wheaton College
Since its inaugural event in 2009, the SI has hosted over 420 attendees from 125 different institutions across six continents. In addition, Kroc faculty have conducted modified programs like the SI in Uganda and in Bogota, Colombia.
“This year’s Summer Institute was truly groundbreaking and full of insightful exchanges among participants,” says George A. Lopez, Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., Professor Emeritus of Peace Studies at Notre Dame and the founder of the SI. “We had a number of U.S. colleges working on expanding their minors to majors, and other colleagues from Ecuador, Indonesia, Philippines and South Korea developing plans for substantial programs. Our first participation of secondary school faculty teams added to the rich discussions about creating peace and justice programs."
The 12th annual SI will take place June 8-12, 2020. The application process for SI 2020 will open in September 2019.
The Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, which is part of the Keough School of Global Affairs, supports study, research and practice centered on strategies for sustainable peace and supports undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. students in peace studies.
Contact:
George Lopez, lopez.1@nd.edu
Lisa Gallagher, 574-631-9370, lgallag3@nd.edu
Originally published by at kroc.nd.edu on June 18, 2019.