ACTS
Applied Conflict Transformation Studies
ACTS was a Master's programme for peacebuilding practitioners offered in parts of the world affected by conflict. It was initiated by RTC and developed and implemented with a consortium of partners: the Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT) and Pannasastra University in Cambodia, the Nansen Dialogue Network and Novi Sad University in the Balkans, and the Coalition for Peace in Africa (COPA) in East Africa.
From 2005 to 2009, ACTS was offered in two regional centres: one in Cambodia for participants from all over Asia, and one in Serbia for participants from the Balkans and the Middle East.
ACTS aimed to:
- develop the capacity of peacebuilding practitioners to engage in their work
- develop theory and new knowledge about peacebuilding processes from the perspective of those who are engaged in the actual work
- support and promote effective and strategic peacebuilding work
To do this ACTS focused on practice-based learning within an academic framework to offer a programme suited to the needs of practitioners.
Action research (AR), which focuses both on people's work and their own role within it, was central to the programme. The underlying idea was that by using action research methodology in their own work environments, and comparing their findings with existing thinking in the field of peacebuilding, the participants could not only become more effective in their practice but also contribute to global theory development from a Southern, practitioner perspective. In this way the programme aimed to bridge some of the divides in the peacebuilding field between universities and the field, and between North and South.
However, unfortunately in 2009 the Department for International Development ended RTCs vital funding for ACTS, and were were forced to reconsider our ability to be part of the course. Despite this, we are very pleased that ACTS Asia is still running successfully in Cambodia.
For more information on the ACTS programme in Asia please visit the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies ACTS website.
