Piloting a Global Learning Network for Peace Studies in Iraq
Institutional Affiliation
New York University Peace Research and Education Program
Start Date
January 2026
End Date
January 2026
Proposal Type
Presentation
Proposal Format
On-campus
Proposal Description
Dr. Thomas Hill will present the "Piloting a Global Learning Network for Peace Studies in Iraq" project, which has established a formal Iraqi Peace Studies Network with seven university members. This network is intended to serve as a platform for peace research and education, facilitating collaboration and resource sharing among universities in Iraq. The main goal of the project has been to harmonize and strengthen Peace Studies curricula in Iraqi universities.
Over the past decade, several Iraqi universities have launched new academic programs in Peace Studies and related fields. Because Peace Studies had not historically been a field of teaching and research in Iraq, leaders of these new programs had expressed concerns about a lack of teaching materials, especially in the Arabic language, and a lack of familiarity with the field by faculty members assigned to teach in these programs. NYU’s Peace Research and Education Program (PREP) has been engaged with Iraqi university efforts to develop Peace Studies programs since PREP’s inception in 2018.
Four main outcomes emerged from the project:
- Participating Iraqi universities identified the gaps and inconsistencies in their existing Peace Studies curricula, and requested support in strengthening their programs;
- PREP built a repository of published Peace Studies resources: 24 sources in English and 49 sources in Arabic;
- Representatives of three Iraqi universities developed a draft syllabus for a foundational course for any Iraqi universities offering a higher diploma or master’s degree in Peace Studies;
- The Iraq Peace Studies Network was launched at the conclusion of a December 3-5, 2024 workshop at the University of Duhok. Goals of the network included: defining a “new unified interdisciplinary Peace Studies curriculum for Iraqi universities” and supporting “the establishment of units, centers and departments related to Peace Studies at different Iraqi universities.”
Piloting a Global Learning Network for Peace Studies in Iraq
Dr. Thomas Hill will present the "Piloting a Global Learning Network for Peace Studies in Iraq" project, which has established a formal Iraqi Peace Studies Network with seven university members. This network is intended to serve as a platform for peace research and education, facilitating collaboration and resource sharing among universities in Iraq. The main goal of the project has been to harmonize and strengthen Peace Studies curricula in Iraqi universities.
Over the past decade, several Iraqi universities have launched new academic programs in Peace Studies and related fields. Because Peace Studies had not historically been a field of teaching and research in Iraq, leaders of these new programs had expressed concerns about a lack of teaching materials, especially in the Arabic language, and a lack of familiarity with the field by faculty members assigned to teach in these programs. NYU’s Peace Research and Education Program (PREP) has been engaged with Iraqi university efforts to develop Peace Studies programs since PREP’s inception in 2018.
Four main outcomes emerged from the project:
- Participating Iraqi universities identified the gaps and inconsistencies in their existing Peace Studies curricula, and requested support in strengthening their programs;
- PREP built a repository of published Peace Studies resources: 24 sources in English and 49 sources in Arabic;
- Representatives of three Iraqi universities developed a draft syllabus for a foundational course for any Iraqi universities offering a higher diploma or master’s degree in Peace Studies;
- The Iraq Peace Studies Network was launched at the conclusion of a December 3-5, 2024 workshop at the University of Duhok. Goals of the network included: defining a “new unified interdisciplinary Peace Studies curriculum for Iraqi universities” and supporting “the establishment of units, centers and departments related to Peace Studies at different Iraqi universities.”