Peace Professionalism Project Pre-Conference 2026
Date: April 30th, 2026
Location: Balsillie School of International Affairs (Seminar Room 131)
attendance is by invitation-only
Time: 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM EDT
This half-day session will focus on the Peace Professionalism Project – a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) / Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines (CRSH) – funded research initiative that brings together voices across sectors and disciplines to strengthen how peace work is understood, taught, and practiced.
Lunch
Welcome and Introduction to the Topic
Findings from the Peace Professionalism Project
1- Findings on values (make connections also to findings on peace)
2- Findings on competencies (make connections also to perceived gaps that impede effective practice)
3- Findings on assessment
Break
Deliberations: Doing Professionalism the Right Way
i. Questions
1. Responses to the research: What seems most meaningful as you relate the findings to your own experiences, insights, and training? Are we missing anything?
2. Pros and cons of professionalism: What are the incentives and opportunities inherent in professionalism? And do you perceive any challenges or drawbacks in working on peace professionalism?
3. What are the “dos” and “don’ts” of professionalism?
4.How will professionalism in the peace field be similar to (and different from) professionalism in other fields/sectors?
ii. Learning from practices and experiences of people attending; first 20 minutes on sharing personal responses; second 20 minutes on pros/cons as well as dos/dont’s
iii. Note-taking to report back; devote last 20 minutes to a collective debrief.
B. Shift focus to assessment with 15 minute presentation of research findings to date on assessment
C. Broader conversation about assessments: How should assessment for peace professionalism be conducted? What do you consider to be the most valid and reliable approaches in your own areas of practice? What should be pursued and avoided in this area, and why? (30 minutes) Follow this with 5 minutes describing the CPSC approach then allocate 10 minutes for responses and advice to PPP. What is indispensible in assessing capacity and preparedness for peace work, and how can the peace field advance the conversation about how to do this? Suggestions for next steps?
Save the Date: Interconnected Futures Conference!
Join us May 1-3, 2026 for Interconnected Futures: Pathways to Justice in Global Health, Peace and Sustainability, hosted by Pegasus Institute