OSLO – Twenty-five students from 10 different nations have commenced a six-week intensive course in peace research at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO).
The program is conducted as part of the University of Oslo’s International Summer School, bringing together a diverse cohort to analyze contemporary issues in peace and conflict studies.
The course began with an introductory day where participants were welcomed by PRIO’s Acting Director, Haakon Gjerløw, and course coordinators Malika Rakhmankulova and Maria Helena Chavez-Aagaard.
Global Academic Participation
The 2026 cohort consists of students from a wide geographical range, reflecting the international scope of the institute’s research mandates and the cross-border nature of today’s security challenges. Many of the participants already work with public institutions, civil society groups, or diplomatic services in their home countries, positioning the course as a pipeline for future decision-makers in peace and security policy.
The participating countries include:
- Colombia
- Kazakhstan
- Norway
- The Bahamas
- Malawi
- Nepal
- Kenya
- Sri Lanka
- Indonesia
- Poland
According to organizers, this mix of conflict-affected, post-conflict, and relatively stable countries is intended to foster comparative discussions on how institutions design peace processes, manage fragile ceasefires, and implement long-term reconciliation policies.
Institutional Framework and History
PRIO has organized this summer program annually since 1969. The initiative serves as a bridge between theoretical academic research and the practical application of conflict resolution strategies, including ceasefire design, mediation support, and the monitoring of human rights obligations during and after conflict.
The course is anchored in Norway’s broader commitment to international peace diplomacy and multilateralism, operating within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations, which underpins contemporary international efforts to prevent and resolve armed conflict. Lectures and seminars explore how empirical peace research can inform UN-mandated peace operations, regional security arrangements, and national peace policies.
The curriculum is delivered primarily by PRIO researchers, who specialize in the systemic causes of violence and the mechanisms required to sustain peace. As an independent research institute, PRIO provides the University of Oslo’s International Summer School with specialized expertise in geopolitical stability and peace-building, including data-driven analysis of conflict trends and evidence-based evaluation of peace agreements.
In addition to core academic sessions, the programme introduces students to the practical realities of policy-making, from security-sector reform and transitional justice to the design of inclusive peace processes involving women, youth, and minority communities. A key aim is to equip participants with analytical tools they can apply in ministries, international organizations, and non-governmental bodies once they return home.
Regarding the objectives for the term, organizers stated: “We look forward to an engaging programme of academic exchange, insightful discussions, and new perspectives on peace research throughout the summer.”
The course will continue for six weeks, focusing on the exploration of key issues within the field of peace and conflict studies, and culminating in policy-oriented projects in which participants apply research insights to concrete governance and diplomatic challenges in their respective regions.
