Truth and reconciliation processes are critical in addressing colonial legacies and realising the modern vision of the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth Peace and Reconciliation Network brings together an interdisciplinary collective of academics, researchers and professional staff from more than 40 universities across the Commonwealth, who work in the fields of peace, truth, justice, and reconciliation.
The network aims to connect and support those interested in peace and reconciliation, facilitating collaboration and sharing approaches to truth-telling and reconciliation in society and within universities themselves.
Through the network's discussion group, academics can connect with colleagues working on similar topics and share events or relevant news and research.
Open to professional and academic staff at ACU member universities, the Challenge Grants support collaborative work focused on the Commonwealth Peace and Reconciliation Network’s priority themes.
Benefits
Our networks are spaces where knowledge, capacity and resources can be shared. Crucially, they are practical, with activities that have a direct impact on university practice and the wider world. Benefits include:
- Collaboration with network members, resulting in outputs that can be shared with the wider network and beyond. These collaborations may be supported by ACU grants
- Brokerage activities to create introductions between members, potentially resulting in new research connections, international guest lecturers, co-supervisors, virtual-mobility relationships, COIL relationships, or mentoring matches
- Attending or presenting at ACU events
- Advocacy to raise the profile of strategic or campaign issues. Through the accredited status that the ACU holds at the Commonwealth and United Nations, the networks can help amplify impact on high-level policy platforms.
Join the network
There are two main ways to be part of the network:
Network member
Networks are open to all staff members and students at ACU member universities - with over 400 member universities in 40 countries, that’s a potential group of 10 million students and more than 1 million academic and professional staff.
Whether you are a student, vice-chancellor, academic or professional at an ACU member university, by joining a network you will instantly become part of a global collaboration with a diverse set of potential partners. You can join as many ACU networks and communities as you like, at any time.
Steering Committee
The steering committee sets the vision, strategic direction and delivery plans for the network:
- Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Professor in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Stellenbosch University
- John Brewer, Professor of Post-Conflict Studies, The Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice, Queen’s University, Belfast
Governance
Professor Wim de Villiers, Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University and member of the ACU's Council (governing body), chairs the network.
