Conflict resolution and reconciliation in difficult times
The European Wasatia Graduate School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at the European University of Flensburg (EUF) welcomed its second cohort of students on Wednesday, 29.05.2024. A total of 13 students from Israel, Palestine, Albania, South Africa, Yemen, Iraq, Serbia and Germany were welcomed. The Vice President of the German Bundestag, Aydan Özoğuz, MdB, the Bishop of Schleswig and Holstein, Nora Steen, and University President Prof. Dr. Werner Reinhart also attended the reception.
Prior to this, Aydan Özoğuz, Member of the German Bundestag, discussed the global crises, Germany's role in the world and the question of how emotions in politics can be analyzed with scientific precision with the scholarship holders and the Graduate School management.
Multipliers for the future
Dr. Ralf Wüstenberg, Professor of Protestant Theology with a focus on Systematic and Historical Theology and Director of the European Wasatia Graduate School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, outlined the aim of the graduate school as being to train multipliers for the future who are able to promote dialogue in order to tackle social problems at both an academic and civil society level. ". In our structured three-years-doctoral program we educate key players to transform societies from within. With its world-wide focus beyond Israel, Palestine and Germany other international areas of conflict (Northern Ireland, South Africa, Simbabwe, Kenia, the Balkans) are considered relevant for initiating mutual learning processes among the Ph.D. students. The analysis of social, legal, political and (inter-)religious conditions for reconciliation is combined with learning practical dialogue skills (such as Holocaust education and Scriptural Reasoning). The aim is to train multipliers for tomorrow capable of fostering dialogue to address social at both academic and civil society levels."
Making a transformative contribution
"At a time when wars are increasing worldwide, people who are familiar with conflict resolution and reconciliation are more important than ever. After all, they are the ones who shape the future of their society and thus of ours," emphasized University President Prof. Dr. Werner Reinhart.
People like Philipa Joy Joseph from South Africa. In the second cohort, the theologian is starting a qualitative study on peace and conflict resolution strategies with a focus on the Middle East, with special consideration of the experiences of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission. "The conflict awareness and intercultural dimension of this graduate program are awesome. I applied here because I hope that my experiences and my degree will enable me to make a transformative contribution to my society," explained the 24-year-old.
Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Mutual encounters, sensitive examination of each other's stories, practical excursions, mutual recognition and joint learning - the intensive intercultural research conditions at the Wasatia Graduate School are made possible in part by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, which is funding the graduate school with 2.1 million euros.
Building Bridges despite Wars
"The Wasatia Graduate School shows that the path to dialog can remain open despite the destructive power of war and that bridges can still be built between people. This is more important than ever right now," explained Aydan Özoğuz, Vice President of the German Bundestag. "We need to talk about peace right now. About a way out of the massive spiral of violence, about the path back to de-escalation and a pragmatic outlook for the future."
More important than ever – to seek Peace
Nora Steen, Bischöfin im Sprengel Schleswig und Holstein, betonte die Bedeutung des interreligiösen Dialogs für eine pluralen und vielfältigen Gesellschaft in einer freiheitlichen demokratischen Ordnung. "Mit aller Kraft müssen wir unsere gemeinsamen Werte bewahren und uns trotz aller Unterschiede des gegenseitigen Vertrauens versichern. Fast immer kann man sagen, die Zeit ist nicht reif. Die Zeit für transkulturelle Projekte, interreligiösen Dialog, interkulturelles Lernen ist schlecht. Aber wir müssen es trotzdem tun. Wir müssen es tun, weil die Zeiten schlecht sind, weil die politischen Umstände schwierig sind. Es ist wichtiger denn je, den Frieden zu suchen."
Wasatia Graduate School
The Wasatia Graduate School was founded in 2020 with ten students. It works closely with the Maecenata Foundation and is based at the Interdisciplinary Center for European Studies at the EUF. The students receive a scholarship of 1550 euros and work for three years on a doctoral project in the field of peace, conflict resolution and reconciliation.