From mustard seed to master’s degree: innovation in global peace studies for sustainable development in Africa

Abstract

The resolution to institutionalize peace studies across Catholic higher education institutions in Africa has been one of the major decisions of the Association of Catholic Universities and Higher Institutes of Africa and Madagascar (ACUHIAM) since 2017. Whereas some institutions have implemented this resolution, some others have not been able to do so. Nevertheless, the resolution passed by ACUHIAM Vice-Chancellors sowed a seed of an academic innovation through a project “Peace Studies for Sustainable Development in Africa” which was initiated by a transcontinental consortium of peace scholars from Germany, Tanzania, China and the United States of America in 2019. This consortium aimed at supporting African peace and development scholarship. Grounded in Peace Studies and Development Studies, this paper analyses and showcases the implementation of the innovation commonly known as “Global Peace” in terms publications and events, namely webinars, conferences, book launches and internships where one book has been published, another has been reviewed for publication and a call for papers has been issued for the third book. Over 60 weekly webinars have been organized. Global Peace is establishing a Master of Arts in African Peace and Sustainability Studies (MAAPSS), which is an innovation worth pursuing through a global partnership for sustainable peace and development, thus contributing to the implementation of Agenda 2030. Global Peace encompasses all 17 Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on SDG 4 on Quality Education; SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and 17 on Partnerships for the Goals.