Peacebuilding and Education in Iraq:
An Interdisciplinary Symposium

May 13-15, 2014

Hosted by:
The Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies
University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
in cooperation with
The Center for Global Affairs
New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Under the Auspices of Prof. Dr. Mosleh Mohammed Duhoky, President of the University of Duhok, and with the support of the Embassy of the United States of America in Baghdad, the University of Duhok’s Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies invites the submission of papers to be presented at the first academic symposium in Iraq focused on the intersection of peacebuilding and education in Duhok on May 13-15, 2014.

The aim of the symposium will be to raise awareness of ongoing educational efforts in peacebuilding in Iraq and in neighboring states, to invite critical consideration of them in terms of theory and practice, and to catalyze further research and action related to new or expanded programs or projects in this area. The symposium will bring together promising scholars from fields related to education and peacebuilding from Iraq, elsewhere in the Middle East and the neighboring region, the United States, as well as Iraqi policymakers in education and higher education.

Papers should address one of the three themes of the symposium:
• Past and current educational peacebuilding efforts in Iraq, and their outcomes;
• Policy directions that would support the effectiveness of educational peacebuilding
efforts in Iraq
• Past and current educational peacebuilding efforts in neighboring countries and their outcomes

Envisaged participants in the symposium will be:
● Distinguished Ph.D. and master’s degree candidates from a range of disciplines including sociology, law, economics, history, political science, peace studies, education and other social sciences, representing universities in Iraq, neighboring countries and the United States.
● Ph.D. and master’s degree holders who have graduated in the past five years from programs in sociology, law, economics, history, political science, peace studies, education and other social sciences, representing universities in Iraq, neighboring countries, and the United States.
● Policymakers from Iraq who are concerned with educational policy as it relates to peacebuilding.

Presenters interested in sharing original qualitative or quantitative research papers at the symposium should submit a 300-500-word (maximum) abstract of her/his paper, along with a current CV, by February 1, 2014, to pcrs@uod.ac

The symposium organizing committee will consider the inclusion of scholars and policymakers who do not fit these criteria on a case-by-case basis. Regional representation of all parts of Iraq (center, north and south) will be sought, as well as a strong gender balance among participants.

Successful applicants will be notified by the symposium organizing committee of their acceptance by February 23, 2014. Authors selected to present their papers must submit the full text of their papers, which must not exceed 20 pages, double-spaced, or 5000 words, by April 25, 2014. The main language of the symposium will be English. Papers can also be presented in Arabic or Kurdish with an extended summary of 4-5 pages in English.

The organizing committee also welcomes proposals for panels made of specific paper presenters on a similar theme and for subjects of small group working sessions. Such proposals are also requested by February 1, 2014.

Travel to and accommodations in Duhok during the symposium for successful applicants will be covered by the University of Duhok and New York University.

For further information about the symposium, please contact pcrs@uod.ac