Università per Stranieri di Perugia
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Peace is the Future: Education and Political Dialogue in Sudan.

Funding category: 

MAECI

Durata: 

Sudan is currently experiencing a large-scale conflict that erupted on April 15, 2023, plunging the country into one of the worst wars in its history. What began as a power struggle in Khartoum quickly escalated into a nationwide conflict with devastating humanitarian consequences.

The Project aims to contribute to the strengthening of peace and security through the promotion of dialogue and the use of innovative tools, based on a partnership agreement between:

  • The Università per Stranieri di Perugia, as the Project coordinator, a historic Italian university and a leading institution for the promotion of the Italian language and culture worldwide;
  • The Community of S. Egidio ACAP, an international organization with over fifty years of experience in humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding, and social development, active in 69 countries;
  • Comboni College of Science & Technology, a private Catholic-inspired academic institution founded in 1999 by the Comboni Missionaries together with a group of Sudanese citizens. Located in the capital of Sudan, the College is one of the leading educational institutions in the country;
  • Fondazione Nigrizia, promoted by the Comboni Missionaries (Congregation of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus), one of Italy's most authoritative voices on the African continent, actively engaged against racism, hate speech, and all forms of discrimination, including through advocacy and training activities.

Purpose: 

  • the development of a capacity building programme for staff and
    faculty of the Comboni College of Science and Technology as future decision-makers
    and leaders in Sudan;
  • to foster intercommunity dialogue among different groups in Sudan;

Activities / Project Phases: 

▪ implementation of a training series between the Università per Stranieri di Perugia and the Comboni College of Science and Technology on the topic of distance learning;
▪ provision of academic mobility opportunities for students from the Comboni College of Science and Technology through scholarships at the Università per Stranieri di Perugia;
▪ strengthening interreligious dialogue to reduce misunderstandings and promote social cohesion;
▪ training for representatives of civil society on countering hate speech, particularly on social networks;
▪ dissemination of the project and its outcomes through a final exhibition.
Specifically, the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, as project lead, will be responsible for coordinating and managing the following activities:
▪ project coordination and management;
▪ delivery of online training sessions between the Università per Stranieri di Perugia and the Comboni College of Science and Technology on the development of distance learning methodologies;
▪ provision of academic mobility opportunities for students from the Comboni College of Science and Technology through scholarships at the Università per Stranieri di Perugia;
▪ dissemination of the project and its results, including the organization of a final exhibition;

Risultati raggiunti: 

  • A capacity building programme was developed for staff and faculty of the Comboni College of Science and Technology as future decision-makers and leaders in Sudan.
  • Intercommunity dialogue was encouraged among various groups in Sudan.

Coordinator: 

Prof. Federica Guazzini

Team: 

Prof. Letizia Cinganotto, Prof. Cristina Gaggioli, Prof. Valentino Santucci, Prof. Renato Tomei, Dr. Marco Bagli