Summer School - Role of Academic Institutions in Democratic Consolidation, Social Justice and Conflict Transformation in Pakistan

As part of FES Pakistan’s project on “Strengthening Academic Dialogues on Campus Life for Promoting Social Harmony and Democratic Culture”, FES Pakistan organized Inter-provincial Summer School for the students of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at BaraGali campus of University of Peshawar in which around 40 students from Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU) Khairpur and University of Peshawar (UoP) participated. The students examined the theories and practices of strengthening democratic culture, promoting social justice and conflict transformation in academic institutions at local and national level. A galaxy of key experts was invited to conduct participatory sessions on a) Importance of critical reading and writing, b) Religion and Peacebuilding, c) Academic Intervention and Integration, d) Human Rights and Social Justice, e) Inter-provincial cooperation of cultures, f) Role of student unions, g) Academic Discourses and Dialogue in Conflict Transformation, h) Democratic Policing and Securitization and I) Social media for social change and j) Plight of religious minorities in academic institutions. 

Bhittai Social Watch & Advocacy (BSWA) and Media Training and Research Center (MTRC) shared the case studies of life of students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. The students evaluated how religion impacts upon peace-building. Students also learnt more about how interventions and policies dedicated to conflict transformation have failed or succeeded and what should be the way forward for progressive Pakistan.

The summer school positioned the importance of human security, social justice and the role of academic institutions in democracy building, respecting human rights and improving social inclusion.

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Pakistan is highly thankful to Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur, University of Peshawar, Bhittai Social Watch and Advocacy (BSWA), Media Training & Research Center (MTRC) for their collaboration for this summer school.