Rotary has announced its partnership with Symbiosis International University to establish The Rotary Peace Center at Symbiosis International University. The center to be located at the Lavale campus in Pune, Maharashtra, will offer a one-year professional certificate fellowship program designed to train peace and development professionals from across the Asia region in peace studies, conflict transformation, and sustainable development.
The new peace center will equip community leaders with advanced knowledge and skills in peacebuilding that focus on pivotal issues pertinent to Asia. These include land and identity disputes, climate change, food insecurity, refugee integration, and community development.
With a strong focus on Positive Peace – as defined by attitudes, institutions, and structures that create and sustain peaceful societies, students will engage in a comprehensive curriculum in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. The fellowship will include academic studies, field visits, and seminars and workshops, as well as a unique peace and development project each student will implement in their home or host community to create sustainable change. Upon completion of the curriculum, Rotary Peace Fellows will be awarded a postgraduate diploma in peace and development studies by the university.
“Our collaboration with Symbiosis International University marks a significant step in Rotary’s ongoing commitment to fostering peace and developing sustainable solutions to address local and global challenges,” said Bharat Pandya, Trustee, The Rotary Foundation (TRF). “Peace is the foundation for safety, prosperity, and sustainable development in our societies. The establishment of Rotary’s peace center at Symbiosis is a proud moment for Rotary that will empower future peacebuilders. This collaboration is a call for action to invest in peace, nurture local leadership, and shape resilient communities for generations to come,” he added.
With an intake of 20 peace fellows per cohort twice per year, the program is tailored to accommodate mid-career professionals, ensuring they’re able to integrate their learnings into real-world scenarios and positively impact their respective organizations and communities.
The Rotary Peace Center at Symbiosis International University will offer a diverse curriculum including modules in post-conflict recovery and healing, social justice, population displacement and migration, diplomacy, and humanitarian response. The mission is to work towards creating effective learning support systems and an enabling environment that nurtures global citizens, cultivates skills and mindsets for resolving conflict, and contributes to a more inclusive, knowledge-driven, and sustainable future supported by a network of peacebuilders across the region.
“The Rotary Peace Center that we are associated with is yet another feather in the cap of Symbiosis. Established in 1971 by Prof. Dr. S.B. Mujumdar, our visionary founder and the Chancellor of Symbiosis International University, Symbiosis was built on the motto ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ meaning the ‘world is one family.’ His mission was to bring together students from across India and around the world to encourage international understanding and a spirit of brotherhood. I am delighted that Rotary has chosen Symbiosis International University as the site for a Rotary Peace Center. This initiative aligns well with our core values and long-standing vision of Symbiosis,” said Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar, Principal Director, Symbiosis, Pro Chancellor, Symbiosis International (Deemed University).
Rotary currently awards up to 130 fully funded fellowships for dedicated peace and development leaders from around the world to study at one of its seven peace center programs. Since 2002, Rotary Peace Centers have trained more than 1,800 individuals for careers in peacebuilding, and program alumni serve as leaders in both governmental and non-governmental agencies, international organizations, and more.
