Pathways to peace

Inside Rotary’s new education series. A new three-day Rotary Peace Education Series at The University of Queensland will equip participants with cutting-edge insights into global conflict, gender dynamics and practical pathways to building a more peaceful world.

What are the driving factors behind the rise of violent conflict and the decline in peace? How does the rise of authoritarian regimes and illiberal politics pose challenges to conflict resolution and peacebuilding? How do differences in gender (women, men, boys and girls) foster or inhibit conflict? Why does gender play such a crucial role in conflict resolution and peacebuilding? What role do images and our media play in sustaining war and promoting peace? And what steps can we take to support and strengthen pathways towards a more peaceful world?

These are the core questions that will be tackled in the Rotary Peace Education Series (ROPES), a brand-new education program offered by the Rotary Peace Centre at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Qld, from 26-28 June 2026.

ROPES is exclusively designed for Rotary members (and their families and friends) as well as Rotary staff who are interested in deepening their knowledge of conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Participants gain an advanced understanding of the cutting-edge research on global conflict trends, the new challenges to world peace, the role of gender and youth in conflict resolution, and the visual dimensions of war and peace.

This in-person, three-day education series is led by the Rotary Peace Centre at The University of Queensland in close collaboration with The Rotary Foundation in Chicago. This unique education program enables Rotarians to directly learn from, and interactively engage with, the University of Queensland’s world-leading peace and conflict resolution experts and award-winning teachers.

No prior knowledge of conflict resolution and peace building is required. The program is specifically designed to enable lay persons and non-experts to participate and learn from leading experts who research and teach in this field. Participants are expected to have a general desire to gain new knowledge and explore cutting-edge pathways to peace.

Participants gain an advanced understanding of the cutting-edge research on global conflict trends, the new challenges to world peace, the role of gender and youth in conflict resolution, and the visual dimensions of war and peace.

Day one will address ‘The New Challenges to Achieve World Peace’, facilitated by Dr DB Subedi and Director of the UQ Rotary Peace Centre Associate Professor Sebastian Kaempf. Day two will cover ‘Inclusive Peacebuilding: Gender, Youth and Security’, led by Dr Melissa Johnston and Professor Katrina Lee-Koo, while day three will delve into ‘The Visual Dimensions of War and Peace’ with Associate Professor Sebastian Kaempf.

Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion, signed by both Rotary International and the UQ Rotary Peace Centre. Registrations close 15 May 2026.

For more information about this education program and registration details, visit study.uq.edu.au/short-courses/rotary-peace-education-series