Mission and Purpose of the Grant

Our grant concentrates on the professional development of women university faculty and administrators who live within conflict, post-conflict, and transitional societies. The overall objectives for the grant are:  

1. develop and enhance transformative leadership skills for university women that are beneficial to universities and external communities, including potential university students and participants;
2. promote strategies for lasting societal change to help prevent the on-going cycles of debilitating violence, by presenting alternative futures that seek to enhance and institutionalize constructive and peaceful resolutions; 
3. foster mutual civil societal benefits to all affected parties and stakeholders;
4. and compile, utilize, and engage in current research that will help participants contribute to applied policy research on peace and conflict resolution.

To meet our objectives, our June 2018 residential Institute was designed exclusively for senior and emerging university leaders from countries that experienced high levels of civil, social, and political conflict. A holistic learning experience comprised of prominent speakers, roundtable discussions, workshops, one-on-one mentoring with higher education leaders, site visits, and networking opportunities immersed participants in a unique intellectual development program. The curriculum was developed to improve participants’ leadership skills to effect positive change at their home institutions. Institute participants also had the opportunity to interact directly with notable international agency and philanthropic leaders. 

At the conclusion of the Institute, our aim was to establish, develop, and maintain an ongoing interactive technological platform that would allow participants and others to contribute and share their best practices for leadership in university life in post-conflict and transitional societies.