Southeast Asian University Partnership for Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation (SAUP)

The social impact of decades of armed conflict is profound. Perhaps the most dangerous of these effects is the normalisation and social acceptance of violence as a means of resolving conflict. Universities that offer courses on peacebuilding and non-violent conflict transformation act as a bridge between theory and practice by examining the effectiveness of civil conflict transformation approaches through their research contributions. By offering degree programmes in peace and conflict studies, they support the social transformation of violent attitudes and behaviours and contribute to the dissemination of methods of civil conflict management. However, the development of study programmes in countries of the Global South has been rather marginal to date, and universities there often lack expertise in the field of conflict transformation and resources for indispensable peace research and its dissemination.

The Civil Peace Service (ZFD) of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Center for Conflict Research at Marburg University have launched the regional programme ‘Southeast Asian University Partnership for Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation’ (SAUP) to support and strengthen universities in Cambodia, the Philippines and Timor-Leste in the design and implementation of degree programmes in peace and conflict research. The project focuses on mutual learning among all participating partners.