The Applied Conflict Transformation Studies (ACTS) is a two year fully accredited MA program designed specifically for Asian Peace Pracitioners. The ACTS program is grounded in the intersection of theory; practice and research to support the development of strategic peace workers committed to conflict transformation and sustained peace in Asia.

The ACTS MA program is designed for students who want to deepen and expand their knowledge and skills in the field of Conflict Transformation to become more strategic in their work. This program places a strong emphasis on learning and reflection and includes a variety of ways to help the students reflect on their practice. 

The Applied Conflict Transformation Studies (ACTS) Masters course offers an outcome-based curriculum that stresses holistic, transformative learning.  Students will develop their professional competency, and critical analysis and a moral imagination. The holistic curriculum will include care for the person’s psychic, interpersonal and spiritual life as well as academic and professional achievement.

ACTS uses a systems theory approach to understanding conflict and the role of the self in analysing and working within conflict situations. Understanding that conflict cannot be studied objectively as an external observer, but rather that by observing and studying conflict situations we influence the events.  Throughout the course students will gain a holistic understanding of the self and their work within the systems they are working in.  The course will culminate in an Action Research project wherein students will apply their academic learning to gain a deeper understanding of their work related to peace and conflict transformation.

Because the overall methodology of the Applied Conflict Transformation Studies programme is experience-based, students draw on their own experience of living and working in situations of conflict and violence as a basis for their learning.  The Applied Conflict Transformation Studies programme helps students to develop the necessary skills to reflect on their experiences, analyse them and develop creative responses and interventions to enable transformation of the systems, structures and behaviours that give rise to injustice. 

Students have many and varied opportunities to further develop personal and group skills in working in situations of conflict and violence.  Developing skills such as listening, communication, feedback, analytical, academic reading and critical analysis start from the very beginning of the course and continue throughout.

Major: Applied Conflict Transformation Studies (ACTS)

Course Description

ACTS 515/516/517      Conflict Transformation: Theory and Analysis I, II and III

Good peace practice is grounded deeply in a clear articulation of theory, and a deep and ever evolving analysis of a conflict system. Module One provides students with frameworks, theories, experiences, and skills towards strengthening their analytical approach, which grounding it in a solid theoretical framework.

Fundamental to this approach is the collaboration of adult learners who together create a learning community of practice. ACTS students are grounded in their own realities, and already hold significant insights and learning to share with each other. While learning more about, and critiquing, existing theory, a fundamental aspect of the module is that students also formulate their own theories of conflict.

ACTS 520/521/522      Strategies for Intervention and Supporting Peace Process I, II and III

This module focuses on peace processes, and intervention strategies for meaningful and positive impact in peace processes. It defines the structures, roles and complex dynamics of peace processes and the function of mediation, facilitation, and dialogue while drawing on illustrations from case studies around the Asia-Pacific region. Different themes and concepts will be explored in this module and the sessions will be a combination of online and offline activities.

The module will start with a welcome session that will provide students an overview of the module and highlight how each of the sessions weave and relate to one another week after week. The following sessions will unpack foundational concepts such as Theory of Change and Criteria for Effectiveness/Building Blocks for Peace with RPP Framework as main resource material, Active Listening, and Expanded Framework for Peacebuilding by John Paul Lederach.

ACTS 540/541/542      Sustaining Peace I, II and III

The module critically assesses and explores a society’s transition out of violent conflict. It addresses the question of what it means to be a “post-conflict” society and its implications for peace work and transformation.       

The concepts of truth and justice will be explored and unpacked in this module. Issues to be addressed include how a society heals from the wounds of conflict, what role trauma plays in the healing process and what a peace worker needs to understand about trauma to be most effective and sensitive in their work. The ACTS programme recognizes the important role of the variety of processes necessary to build a society anew after horrendous experiences of violent conflict. Of particular importance is the notion of reconciliation and justice in ‘post-conflict’ contexts, especially the role of collective memory, history, trauma, and healing. Through the study of multiple cases, larger lessons learned in regards to normalization and the shared responsibility of the past after conflict and indicators of success will be extrapolated, grounded in experience, and critique.

Towards the end of the module, students will begin formulating their Action Research proposal through sessions designed to help them achieve such. The module culminates with the students participating in the annual Peace Practitioners’’ Research Conference.

ACTS 555/556/557      Becoming Agents of Change I, II and III

Action Research (AR) is the systematic, self-reflective, scientific inquiry undertaken by practitioners. AR is grounded in the belief that research with human beings should be participative and democratic. Researchers working within this frame are charged with being sensitive to issues of power, open to the plurality of meanings and interpretations, and able to take into account the emotional, social, spiritual and political dimensions of those with whom they interact. The primary purpose of action research is to produce practical knowledge that is useful to people in the everyday conduct of their lives.

The focus of module four is working with students to complete the development of the students’ respective AR Proposals and further develop student’s capacity to be an agent of change in their communities and organisations through their Action Research. Students will finalise their preparation towards skillfully designing and implementing a contextually relevant AR Project.

ACTS 560/561/562      Reflecting on your Peace Practice I, II and III

In this module, the final development of the students' Action Research is the primary source of learning. During this module students will focus on building theory from their practice and drawing out the findings from their Action Research. By this time students should have a complete picture of the programme and flow of the topics, and should be able to see how their own learning objectives and their work fits in this picture.

The focus of the Residential Seminar during Module Five is on individual work and separate tutorials for each student in writing their final thesis.  Students will have time allocated for writing and for meeting with their academic advisors for preparing their formal presentations and monographs. In particular, emphasis will be placed on turning the action research findings into a thesis and ensuring adequate development of, and connection between, the theoretical framework, the research methodology, the findings, and the conclusions and recommendations. The Transformative Peace Leadership Programme during this Residential Seminar centers on reflecting on students’ peace practice more broadly and the implications their work has for personal change.

ACTS 597       Advanced Research Methods

Module Six is the culmination of twenty-one months of reflecting, critiquing and evaluating both theory and practice towards strategic and applied conflict transformation work.  There are three core requirements to complete this module and the overall ACTS Programme:

1. A formal defense of the students’ Action Research project papers in front of a Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia panel and CPCS peace builders. Successful defense of the Action Research project papers is the final step towards the university requirement of earning the ACTS MA. The defense is usually 45 minutes, followed by questions and answers from the defense panel.
2. Participation in CPCS’ annual Peace Practitioner Research Conference, a two day conference which brings together Asian peace researchers and practitioners to share perspectives, theories, ideas and experiences around a certain theme.
3. A retreat in Battambang in northwestern Cambodia. Students will have the chance reflect on the journey of ACTS and what lies ahead. Fundamental to this retreat is bring to a close the Transformative Peace Leadership journey that students have made through the ACTS programme.

ACTS 598       Project Report