Strengthening Partnerships for Peace Education 

Nonviolent Peaceforce and Universitas Syiah Kuala Strengthen Partnership to Advance Peace Education and Research 

Dr. Delsy Ronnie and Prof. Dr. Ir. Marwan. Photo: KabarAktual.id 
 

Banda Aceh, Indonesia — Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) and Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) have formalized an expanded partnership to deepen collaboration on peace education, research, and academic exchange. This strengthened relationship was marked by an event that also featured a public lecture titled “Damai dalam Bingkai Kearifan Lokal” (Peace in the Frame of Local Wisdom). 

“We are honored to formalize our work with Universitas Syiah Kuala,” said Dr. Delsy Ronnie, NP’s Regional Representative for Asia. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to empowering communities through education, research, and peacebuilding — grounded in local wisdom and global solidarity.” 

NP’s engagement with USK builds upon two decades of sustained collaboration in peacebuilding and academic exchange in Indonesia and across Southeast Asia. Between 2022  and 2024, NP also implemented peacebuilding and civilian protection programming in Aceh, working alongside local communities and partners to support nonviolent conflict transformation and post-conflict recovery. 

In 2022, NP partnered with the International Conference on Aceh and Indian Ocean Studies (ICAIOS) and the University Research Network in Aceh to conduct research on Unarmed Civilian Protection in West Papua, under the support of Creating Safer Space (CSS).  
 
During this period, USK launched a master’s program in Peace and Development, creating new pathways for academic inquiry and practitioner-oriented learning in peacebuilding and conflict transformation. In support of the program’s establishment, NP facilitated ongoing learning exchanges between USK scholars and Creating Safer Space (CSS) researchers, including Prof. Rachel Julian, Prof. Berit Bliesemann de Guevara, and Prof. Chantana Banpasirichote Wungaeo. NP also provided substantive input into the program’s curriculum development and academic planning. 

In 2025, with the master’s program now in operation, NP staff were invited to serve as visiting lecturers, enriching the educational experience with regionally grounded expertise in peace and conflict studies.  

The November 2025 agreement signed by NP and USK outlines a framework for long-term cooperation in areas of shared interest, including: 

• Staff and student exchanges to support cooperative education and mutual learning. 

• Joint academic initiatives addressing peacebuilding, humanitarian action, social justice and development, conflict resolution, human rights, and civilian protection. 

• Collaborative research, including joint academic meetings, workshops, and publications. 

• Knowledge sharing, through the exchange of information, experiences, and academic materials to advance shared objectives. 

Reflecting on the collaboration, Prof. Dr. Ir. Marwan emphasized that USK’s commitment to peace education builds on Aceh’s post-conflict journey: "The collective responsibility now is to fuel this peace, especially for the welfare of the community and to ensure that the values of peace permeate social life," said Prof. Marwan. 

The partnership between NP and USK is expected to enhance the role of academic institutions in peace processes across conflict-affected regions and contribute to peace education that supports sustainable and inclusive societies.