TRANSFORMING LEADERSHIP
As an organisation committed to conflict transformation, CPCS practice and theory have always reflected an understanding of the central role that individuals play in transforming conflict systems.
We believe investing in the leadership capacity of local actors and peace practitioners is essential to carry forward the lessons learned, new attitudes and networks, and to ultimately reducing the possibility of a return to violent conflict.
Engaging key individuals in long-term leadership development increases the sustainability of peace as they apply skills to their own contexts, while also creating a network of strong Asian peace leaders who will carry efforts forward.
PEACE LEADERSHIP
CPCS defines leadership simply as: influence. Leadership is also understood as a practice, a dynamic expression of particular creative competencies, as opposed to a tick-box list of static qualities one demonstrates.
In our leadership transformation work, CPCS fuses the richness of two interdisciplinary fields – leadership development and conflict transformation – to develop what we call Peace Leadership.
Simply put, Peace Leadership is leadership in the service of peacework. It is dedicated to cultivating both self and systems awareness, and concerned with deepening and sharpening the skills of influential individuals who are actively working for peace.
We champion a holistic, systems approach to leadership that attends to the mind, body and spirit of a practitioner. Peace Leadership is therefore concerned with the integration of all of these aspects of an individual and recognises that robust, creative, authentic, resilient and skillful leadership in the peace process requires all three aspects are attended to.
This view of leadership is multileveled, recognising that Peace Leadership is as much about internal work as it is about external relations and skills to effect systems change.
STRENGTHENING VISION & EFFECTIVENESS
Our purpose in cultivating an individual’s leadership competencies is to deepen the vision and effectiveness of their peacebuilding practice.
We believe enhancing individuals’ passion and skills in turn strengthens their respective interventions into violent conflict, which fosters sustainable peace.
Through both our ACTS Master’s Programme, context-driven Peace Leadership Programme and other trainings and workshops, we strive to strengthen the capacity of peace leaders to develop their skills and understanding of conflict transformation and peace practice, critically evaluate their own work and interventions and then apply these lessons to improving their organisational activities.
By strategically identifying and working with people in positions of influence or working on peacebuilding initiatives, these interventions have a “multiplier effect”, impacting not just those taking the course, but also those that can then be affected by the new ideas, programmes and policies instituted by participants.
LISTENING
UNIQUENESS: THEORY-PRACTICE APPROACH
The Applied Conflict Transformation Studies (ACTS) Master’s Programme is unique in the field of conflict transformation though its utilization of a hybrid academic-practitioner perspective.
The part-time programme, provided in partnership with Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia, offers a thorough, rigorous, dynamic and state-of-the-art approach, drawing on the most up-to-date analysis of conflicts in the Asia-pacific region.
This course is designed for peace practitioners who want to develop the skills and wider competence to build greater peace and justice in their own countries. The ACTS Programme supports key actors by strengthening their capacity to critically evaluate their own work and interventions, and to then apply these lessons to improving their peace practice.
During the two-year programme, participants engage in six two-week residential seminars in Siem Reap where they are exposed to academic theory, research methodology, and research planning and implementation. Some residential seminars are held outside Cambodia to offer students cross-regional exposure experience that enriches the basis for learning.
In addition to full-time members of faculty, CPCS is connected with a wide network of Asian peacebuilders who join residential modules as guest lecturers.
SHARING LESSONS, BUILDING NETWORKS
Bringing together students from around the region – from Afghanistan to the Philippines – ACTS creates opportunities to share lessons and build up a cohort of emerging peace leaders who will share peace practice and theory in the region.
ACTS includes an expansive theoretical background situated in a systems perspective to offer the most comprehensive methodology for critically assessing conflict and skilfully designing methods of transformation. The programme also focuses on the development of a wide range of practical skills, including Action Research, which are carefully designed to improve participants’ capacities in both research and field work.
ACTS has been successfully running since 2004, attracting a diverse range of students from all over the Asia-Pacific region.
While CPCS has a limited number of partial scholarships for this programme, it is the responsibility of the applicant to seek their own funding support.
TRANSFORMATIVE: ORGANIZATIONAL AND PERSONAL
One of the changes attributable to ACTS is personal change. Over the course of the entire programme, student confidence are evident where they exude greater range of skills they are able to apply to their work context such as stronger analytical and critical thinking skills and are able to test new approaches to their work.
Work done on the ACTS courses will benefit their organizations as well. During, and even after the programme, student become more creative in the work that they do such as setting up new resource centres and planning new training programmes to bringing peacebuilding as a focus in strategic planning and refocusing the work of their entire organization.
All these changes lead students to gaining more credibility within their organizations and communities. They and their organizations are being recognized as experts and resources in conflict transformation.
ACTION RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Action Research (AR) is a radical approach to research methodology where the distance between the researcher and the subjects is broken down. At the heart of AR is the spirit of inquiry and its hallmarks are a focus on action and utilisation of a self-reflective approach to learning.
The ACTS approach to AR follows rigorous standards of academic research regarding research design, implementation, data gathering and analysis while focusing the research toward affecting positive change.The AR process uses a systems approach to understanding the complex social contexts and relationships that impact the people and situations being studied. AR understands that as social creatures, people cannot be studied in a controlled environment, rather subjects and researchers are both affected by their participation in the research.
AR embraces what is learned from observation and inquiry as well as what is learned through reflection and adjusting research as it happens.
Reflection & self-awareness
Each phase of research, from design to implementation to evaluating the results, requires the research to reflect on their experiences and their data, and to use new information to guide their study.
This self-reflective approach challenges researchers to turn a critical lens inwardly. It asks the researchers to explore, understand and articulate their own perspective on the field in general and, more specifically, their own perspectives on the work they are engaged in.
Researchers must engage in deep reflection on their inner motivations, biases and expectations. They must have both acute intellectual capacity and a high degree of emotional intelligence to reflect on reactions, responses and the impact of their actions on their surroundings.
Self-awareness is a vital skill for practitioners in this field and research of this kind is designed to contribute new knowledge and understanding to existing research, as well as provide an opportunity for personal development of new skills and understanding.
PEACE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME
Increasing women’s participation in peace efforts is not just a question of quantity – it’s
The programme is invite only and focuses on a select group of women already in
So much time and effort in peacebuilding work is often dedicated to changing the system
Slowing down to go fast Over a period of approximately six months, the programme offers
By fostering the authentic leadership of a comprehensive constellation of key peace leaders across all
Click on any of the thumbnail photos below to launch the Peace Leadership Programme Photo
TRANFORMING LEADERSHIP
Strengthening vision & effectiveness
We believe investing in the leadership capacity of local actors and peace practitioners is essential to carry forward the lessons learned, new attitudes and networks, and to ultimately reducing the possibility of a return to violent conflict. By strategically identifying and working with people in positions of influence or working on peacebuilding initiatives, these interventions have a “multiplier effect”, impacting not just those taking the course, but also those that can then be affected by the new ideas, programmes and policies instituted by participants.
PEACE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE
AT A GLANCE
- Module One: Foundations for Peace Leadership
- Module Two: Strategic Intervention into Armed Conflict
- Module Three: One-on-One Executive Leadership Coaching
- Module Four: Skills for Peace Advocacy
- Module Five: Integral Leadership
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“Before, I thought of leadership as always being in the forefront – someone being elevated and recognised – but with this programme, my belief about that type of leadership has changed. I have became more accepting of what I am capable of and I know what I am capable of. The programme has not only helped me recognise that but at the same time it has helped me embrace it.”
- Peace Leadership Alumni
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“Before I felt very disappointed and exhausted with my work but with this programme we keep staying on the path. It has made me put more effort into my work and into analysing situations so we can deal with things effectively.”
- Peace Leadership Alumni
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“The programme is a great opportunity to learn different perspectives and see what we are learning in our own context and really apply and use it in our various work. The most significant change is that now every time I make an action, I reflect and go back to my coaching session and see what has changed.”
- Peace Leadership Alumni
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“I became more analytical from the programme – I was not just able to practice these news skills but also share them with others.”
- Peace Leadership Alumni
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“My roles and responsibilities have changed, but I had not yet changed the way I saw myself. This was really an eye opener for me. I am in a transition and I like that term.”
- Peace Leadership Alumni
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“This programme helped me recognise myself. It enabled me to explore myself and identify qualities in me which I hadn’t realised before. That is something very special to me and I have already started working on these things. It was the first moment in my peace work that I felt proud of myself. “
- Peace Leadership Alumni
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“For me the whole programme really was enriching in the sense that it strengthened my passion in the work that I do and I got to know the different contexts that we all come from – the journey has been a learning experience.”
- Peace Leadership Alumni
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“This programme gave me renewed wellness. Others in my respective organisations and communities see me as a leader – I didn’t realise that.”
- Peace Leadership Alumni
