Capacity Building for Higher Education Program (CBHE)

Capacity Building for Higher Education Program (CBHE) CBHE is co-funded by the Erasmus Plus Program of the European Union. Cooperation of Friedrich Schiller University, Innsbruck University, University of Jordan, Petra University, Al-Istiqlal University, Al-Azhar University, in developing interactive reconciliation workshops in developing sessions for teaching programs and curriculum building for Master program in reconciliation and peace studies.

AARMENA-Friedrich Schiller

Image: AARMENA-Friedrich Schiller

Strengthening the Academic Alliance for Reconciliation in the Field of Higher Education in Reconciliation, Conflict Transformation, Peace studies in the Middle East and North Africa  (AARMENA)  - 2021-2022-2023

Strengthening the Academic Alliance for Reconciliation in the Field of Higher Education in Peace, Conflict Transformation, Reconciliation studies in the Middle East and North Africa  (AARMENA). Co-funded by the Erasmus Plus Program of the European Unino.

The Academic Alliance for Reconciliation in the Middle East and Northern Africa (AARMENA) works with Reconciliation, conflict transformation, and peacebuilding as a promising approach to transform violent conflicts and trigger social and cultural change in the MENA region. The area is the most affected by wars, civil wars, and gross human rights violations nowadays. Since the 1990s, reconciliation and peacebuilding studies have strongly developed in some centers worldwide. However, the discipline is still relatively absent from the academic curricula of universities that triggers the stakeholders, academics, youth, and women in the MENA region. After the AARMENA inauguration in 2018, the Jena Center for Reconciliation Studies (JCRS) was astonished and delighted to see colleagues and universities' widespread and intensive interest in the MENA region develop Reconciliation, conflict transformation, peacebuilding studies within a cooperative framework. These developments suggest that one of the main goals of the AARMENA, that being the establishment and the spreading of reconciliation studies in the MENA region, is on a good course. The study of the reconciliation process, conflict transformation, and peacebuilding is ongoing progress vital for the MENA region that would help societies, plead, and help assist in reconciling with enemies to make a better future for their children. For that reason, the AARMENA is a way for prosperity among nations, communities.

 

The development of Peace, Reconciliation, and Conflict Transformation Studies is a pressing need in the Middle East and North Africa. This need was acknowledged after the inauguration of the AARMENA conference on Aug 14, 2018, when all members of 45 Professors from 30 different Arab universities in the MENA became members of the AARMENA. Today we are working together to Building Capacity in the Field of Higher Education in Peace, Reconciliation, and Conflict Transformation Studies in the MENA Region. The Program countries are "Austria and Germany" in collaboration with the University of Innsbruck and Freidrich Schiller University as program countries. The Partner countries are Jordan (University of Jorda, Petra University), Palestine Authority (Al-Istiklal University, Al-Azhar University). The reinforcement of the existing network of cooperating partners through further regional, as well as international, cooperation to develop a program in Peace, conflict transformation, and reconciliation studies in HEI Cooperation of University of Innsbruck - Peace Unit with Jena Center for Reconciliation Studies JCRS in developing interactive reconciliation peace studies workshops in developing sessions for a teaching program in the hosting HEIs.The advanced curriculum in Peace, conflict transformation, and reconciliation studies in the MENA region hosting HEIs. The  purpose of the activities will serve to integrate a reconciliation studies manual develeloped by FSU and the Peace and conflict transformation studies manual develop by IBUK.

Links for the Erasmus Plus program guide:

https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/resources/programme-guide_enExternal link

Project link at the Erasmus Plus national office in Jordan:

http://erasmus-plus.org.jo/Portals/0/Projects%202020/619258.pdf?ver=2020-08-05-081120-827External link

Project number: 619258-EPP-1-2020-1-DE-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP   

Project information:

Coordinator:

Name of organization

FRIEDRICH SCHILLER UNIVERSITY JENA

Street

FURSTENGRABEN 1

City

JENA

Country

Germany

Website

www.aarmena.uni-jena.de

International dimension

Regional focus

Intra-regional

Involved Regions

R3

Application Country

DE

Partner Countries

PS (2), JO (2), 

Programs Countries

DE (1), AT (1)

Project Characteristics, Aims and Objectives

Project Type

Multi-country project

Specific Activity

Curriculum development

Subject / Thematic Area

 Social and behavioral sciences

CBHE Actions

Foster regional integration and cooperation across different regions of the world through joint initiatives, sharing of good practices and cooperation, Improve the level of competences and skills in HEIs by developing new and innovative education programs

Support eligible partner countries to address the challenges facing their higher education institutions and systems, including those of quality, relevance, equity of access, planning, delivery, management, governance

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is currently more affected by wars and gross human rights violations than any other region in the world. To address this critical reality, innovative and promising approaches to the promotion of peace must be developed and integrated into the higher educational system within the region. Both Reconciliation and Conflict Transformation Studies are state-of-the-art approaches to transforming violent conflicts and triggering a social and cultural change. The development of Peace, Reconciliation, and Conflict Transformation Studies in the MENA region would transform the discipline, as well as the communities positively affected by their incorporation.The importance of this integration was acknowledged after the inauguration of the AAR where 45 Professors from 30 different Arab universities in the MENA region became members of the AARMENA. Today, we are working together to build capacity in the field of Higher Education (HEI) in Peace, Reconciliation and Conflict Transformation Studies in the MENA region.

 

Project Partnership

Role

region

Participant organization name

Country

Contractor

EU

FRIEDRICH SCHILLER UNIVERSITY JENA

DE

partner

R3

AL AZHAR UNIVERSITY GAZA

PS

partner

R3

AL-ISTIQLAL UNIVERSITY

PS

partner

R3

PETRA FOR EDUCATION

JO

partner

R3

UNIVERSITY OF JORDAN

JO

partner

EU

UNIVERSITY OF INNSBRUCK

AT