INTERNATIONAL LINKAGES
ICON has active linkages with a number of other universities.
In DR Congo, we are linked to Sub-Saharan Africa University in Goma. Two SSAU staff spent three months with us in 2016 developing curricula in peace studies and ICON was the major sponsor of SSAU’s annual Peacebuilding Conferences held annually between 2018 and 2020 until the intervention of Covid.
In June 2019, Dr Kiyala and Prof Harris ran a five-day workshop – ‘Developing postgraduate studies in peacebuilding’ – at La Sapientia Universite Catholique in Goma. The main aim was for each of the six participating universities to develop a strategic plan to commence their own peacebuilding programmes. Secondary aims included promoting the use of participatory action research and strengthening relationships between universities in the Great Lakes region. Dr Kiyala is continuing to encourage this venture and, since 2020, is also teaching postgraduate modules in peacebuilding at the Evangelical University in Bukavu and at the University of Bandundu.
In 2017, Prof Harris spent a month with the Sir James Mancham Peace and Diplomacy Research Institute at the University of Seychelles, during which he helped to develop plans for a new master’s degree in peace studies. In 2021, a new MA in Peace and Conflict Resolution commenced, the core modules in which are being taught by ICON staff. MA in Peace and Conflict Resolution – University of Seychelles
Together with Grace to Heal, a significant NGO based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Dr Kaye and Prof Harris have helped develop a new master’s degree in applied conflict transformation studies (ACTS). As part of the ACTS coursework, Dr Kaye and Prof Harris ran 10-day residential sessions in Bulawayo 2018 and 2019 to equip students to develop their research proposals. Commencing in 2022, it is hoped that students who have completed the ACTS coursework will finish their master’s degree with a dissertation while registered at the Catholic University of Zimbabwe.
Early in 2021, Prof Harris and Dr Sylvia Kaye began discussions with the Moshoeshoe I Institute of Leadership and Peace at the National University of Lesotho, with the aim of developing a master’s degree in peace and conflict studies. This is scheduled to commence in 2022.
In October 2020, ICON established a partnership with the Global Alliance for Ministries & Infrastructures for Peace (GAMIP), whose main objective is establishing cabinet-level Ministries of Peace and other peace infrastructures, including national peace centres, local peace committees and peace centres of various kinds. www.gamip.org
During 2021, Dr. Kaye established linkages with Royal Roads University in Canada. This has resulted in a significant joint research project between ICON and its counterpart at Royal Roads on the impact of action research on peacebuilding.