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Universities expand peace, conflict studies to PhD level

By: Nick Martin

Posted: 03/20/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Winnipeg is joining Washington as the only North American cities where students in peace and conflict studies can get bachelor's, master's and PhD degrees.

The University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba will announce this morning that they are launching a new masters of arts program in September.

"It's been years in the making," said program co-ordinator Marilou McPhedran, principal of U of W's Global College.

McPhedran said that undergrads in peace and conflict studies have had to "scatter" to take their master's degrees. The Arthur V. Mauro Centre at U of M's St. Paul's College introduced a PhD program several years ago.

There is no formal relationship with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, but both universities see "the potential of the museum as a learning site, a place where research can be done," McPhedran said. Students will see Winnipeg as a human rights city, she said.

Despite impending budget cuts at both universities, the university presidents have committed to adding one faculty member each, and have guaranteed that no existing program would be cut to accommodate the masters program, she said.

McPhedran anticipated the joint master's, to be administered by U of M but offered at U of W, could accommodate 15 students a year. Students could choose the university from which they would graduate.

Joanne Keselman, U of M's academic vice-president and provost, noted that "this new program builds on academic strengths at the University of Manitoba and enables us to devote new resources to this important field of study.

"As outlined in its Strategic Planning Framework, the University of Manitoba is committed to encouraging debate and discussion around the understanding of human rights, peace and justice and respect for others. In collaboration with our colleagues we aim to make Manitoba the preeminent centre for peace and conflict studies in Canada."

The peace and conflict studies' research priorities will include the analysis and resolution of protracted ethno-political conflicts, Indigenous approaches to peacemaking, gender, conflict and peace building, peace education, children and war in the context of human rights and human security.

Global College offers Western Canada's first BA in Human Rights and Global Studies. In partnership with Menno Simons College -- a branch of Canadian Mennonite University located on the U of W campus -- U of W also offers a BA in Conflict Resolution Studies and a BA in International Development Studies.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 20, 2010 A10

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