Peace Leadership & Research Institute (PLRI) is an institution of higher learning affiliated with the Thabyay Education Foundation. Established in 2018 with the aim to cultivate a culture of responsible leadership and evidence-based decision making in the search for peace and national reconciliation in Myanmar, PLRI offers high quality training in conducting social science research to students and fellows from all over the country and equips them for leadership roles they are expected to play in the peace process.
Graduate Research Diploma in Peace Leadership
In collaboration with national and international experts, including practitioners, leadership coaches, and leading academics in the peacebuilding sector, the PLRI provides this year-long, highly intensive and academically rigorous training to equip emerging leaders in Myanmar to make significant advances for peace.
Course Descriptions
Basic Research Methodology (48 hours)
This course will introduce students to fundamentals of different research techniques. Students will look at the definition for a research method and examine some of the most common research methods used in the field of social science, both quantitative and qualitative.
Introduction to Social Science Research (48 hours)
This course will explore the techniques and approaches used by most social science researchers to answer difficult questions about the social and political world. How does ‘society’ function? What does a ‘culture’ group consist? What trigger conflicts? What factors contribute to economic development? How do we define development? What are the relationship between a peaceful society and economic progress? These are crucially important questions that can help us better understand the most pressing issues that Myanmar society faces today.
Understanding Conflicts and Reconciliation (48 hours)
This course will explore different perspectives (and narratives) in some of the world’s contemporary major conflicts. The role of history, imagination, political power dynamics and international influences will be explored. Participants in this class will be asked to conduct a case study on Myanmar, and will be encouraged to discuss their own roles and biases in conflicts through self-assessment and develop their understanding of a specific conflict and propose possible strategies toward peace and national reconciliation in the country.
Peace Building: Theories and Approaches (48 hours)
This course will explore various theories and approaches in international peace building. It aims to strengthen students’ abilities to listen and communicate, recognize and promote diversity, develop their vision and values. Emphasis will be placed on engaging the ordinary public in dialogues and designing as well as promoting participatory decision-making process.
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution (48 hours)
Negotiation for peace often includes multiple players and stakeholders – political parties, government officials, military leaders and diplomats. This course will explore the different roles these parties can play and how they can work together to establish common objectives and find a resolution. This course will also investigate the different approaches to negotiation – hard-bargaining vs. problem-solving approaches, interests vs. positions, short-term agreements vs. long-term relationships, and other considerations towards developing effective overall negotiating strategies.
Gender, War and Peace (48 hours)
This course will explore the impact of civil war and social conflicts over women in particular and the issue of gender equality in general. Possible ways and means to close gender gap for leadership role in the peace process will be studied. We will look at the issue from both access and empowerment perspectives in the context of civil war and peace process in Myanmar.
Special Topic Seminars: Comparative Conflict Analysis Series
A day-long seminar by either international or local expert on the topic. (We expect to have a series of sub-topics under this section, with three-hour lecture/presentation per seminar.)
Special Topic Seminar: War, Peace and Development in Myanmar Series
A day-long seminar by either international or local expert on the topic. (We expect to have a series of sub-topics under this section, with three-hour lecture/presentation per seminar.)
Research Project
This course aims to give the students an opportunity to perform a research project within the field of conflict and peace studies under the supervision of in-residence instructor and research advisor. Beginning the second trimester, each participant in the program will be asked to choose a research topic, develop individual research design, study plan, and execute the research project. Upon completion, participants will be asked to summarize and present the results of the project at the end of course period to a panel of both national and international peace and conflict experts. (This class meets once every fortnight till the end of the six-month period and the research is satisfactorily completed.)
Basic Research Methodology (48 hours)
This course will introduce students to fundamentals of different research techniques. Students will look at the definition for a research method and examine some of the most common research methods used in the field of social science, both quantitative and qualitative.
Introduction to Social Science Research (48 hours)
This course will explore the techniques and approaches used by most social science researchers to answer difficult questions about the social and political world. How does ‘society’ function? What does a ‘culture’ group consist? What trigger conflicts? What factors contribute to economic development? How do we define development? What are the relationship between a peaceful society and economic progress? These are crucially important questions that can help us better understand the most pressing issues that Myanmar society faces today.
Understanding Conflicts and Reconciliation (48 hours)
This course will explore different perspectives (and narratives) in some of the world’s contemporary major conflicts. The role of history, imagination, political power dynamics and international influences will be explored. Participants in this class will be asked to conduct a case study on Myanmar, and will be encouraged to discuss their own roles and biases in conflicts through self-assessment and develop their understanding of a specific conflict and propose possible strategies toward peace and national reconciliation in the country.
Peace Building: Theories and Approaches (48 hours)
This course will explore various theories and approaches in international peace building. It aims to strengthen students’ abilities to listen and communicate, recognize and promote diversity, develop their vision and values. Emphasis will be placed on engaging the ordinary public in dialogues and designing as well as promoting participatory decision-making process.
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution (48 hours)
Negotiation for peace often includes multiple players and stakeholders – political parties, government officials, military leaders and diplomats. This course will explore the different roles these parties can play and how they can work together to establish common objectives and find a resolution. This course will also investigate the different approaches to negotiation – hard-bargaining vs. problem-solving approaches, interests vs. positions, short-term agreements vs. long-term relationships, and other considerations towards developing effective overall negotiating strategies.
Gender, War and Peace (48 hours)
This course will explore the impact of civil war and social conflicts over women in particular and the issue of gender equality in general. Possible ways and means to close gender gap for leadership role in the peace process will be studied. We will look at the issue from both access and empowerment perspectives in the context of civil war and peace process in Myanmar.
Special Topic Seminars: Comparative Conflict Analysis Series
A day-long seminar by either international or local expert on the topic. (We expect to have a series of sub-topics under this section, with three-hour lecture/presentation per seminar.)
Special Topic Seminar: War, Peace and Development in Myanmar Series
A day-long seminar by either international or local expert on the topic. (We expect to have a series of sub-topics under this section, with three-hour lecture/presentation per seminar.)
Research Project
This course aims to give the students an opportunity to perform a research project within the field of conflict and peace studies under the supervision of in-residence instructor and research advisor. Beginning the second trimester, each participant in the program will be asked to choose a research topic, develop individual research design, study plan, and execute the research project. Upon completion, participants will be asked to summarize and present the results of the project at the end of course period to a panel of both national and international peace and conflict experts. (This class meets once every fortnight till the end of the six-month period and the research is satisfactorily completed.)