Unit for Peace and Conflict Studies – Universität Innsbruck

MA Programme

Call for Winter Term Applications 2024/25

UNESCO Chair

Innsbruck's excellency in peace research, teaching and facilitation recognized by UNESCO.

Welcome at our Unit

The Unit for Peace and Conflict Studies (UPACS) offers research and teaching across the entire spectrum of conflict transformation, cultures of peace, un/organized violence, peacebuilding, root causes of conflict etc. We are a dedicated team of scholars united by a common interest in studying and promoting Peace and Conflict Studies at a high academic level in a variety of contexts and in a plurality of ways. Although we mainly focus on peace education and capacity building, we strongly believe that contemporary Peace and Conflict Studies must be transdisciplinary, intersectional and decolonial, thus interrogating its own theories and practices. What sets us apart is not the size of our team, but the dedication with which we conduct Peace and Conflict Studies.

Our research and teaching areas cover a variety of topics and discourses, including: Gender Studies, Critical Race Theory, Development Studies, Transitional Justice, Human Rights, Postcolonial Studies, and Critical Ecology Studies. We adopt a combination of experiential and experiential didactics, which is why our Peace and Conflict Studies MA program is quite unique in that it also includes courses on conflict transformation and civilian peacekeeping missions in the form of simulated civil-military cooperation exercises (CIMIC) involving also a number of partner organizations. Many of our alumni are dedicated professionals working for intergovernmental organizations, grassroots initiatives, academic institutions, but also for other entities trying to positively impact today's world.

The Unit for Peace and Conflict Studies comprises the MA Programme Peace and Conflict Studies, the Research Centre InnPeace, the UNESCO Chair for Peace Studies, and collaborates with a number of partner organizations and alumni initiatives.