Asian group visits province on peace study

Lessons of Northern Ireland’s peace process could ease the road to stability in global trouble-spots, following a study visit to the University of Ulster’s Magee-based INCORE research institute by a group from south Asia.

Twenty professionals involved in peace and conflict work in their home countries stayed at the Magee campus for three months to see the peace process's evolution at first hand - and meet some major decision-makers who helped shape it.

The visitors comprised parliamentarians, academics, civil servants, journalists, NGO officials and other professionals from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

At a reception hosted by UU and INCORE, UU Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerry McKenna presented each participant with a training programme certificate, and hoped the course would help the cause of peace.

The Vice-Chancellor said: “We have been privileged to host such a dedicated and professional group - and hope that the shared learning experience you have gained here in Northern Ireland will have a positive impact on conflict resolution in south Asia.”

The programme, funded under the British Council's Chevening Scholarship scheme, involved seminars, workshops, role-play and guest lectures by policymakers, practitioners and academics active in peace and conflict issues internationally.

Among those who spoke with the group were Nobel Laureate Professor John Hume, who holds the Tip O'Neill Chair in Peace Studies at UU, Fine Gael MEP John Cushnahan; Lord Alderdice, a member of the International Monitoring Commission and former Speaker of the NI Assembly; and Councillor Eoin O'Broin of Sinn Féin.

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