General course - Peace and non-violent conflict transformation

A.Y. 2025-2026 (second semester, March-May 2026) - 6 university credits (ECTS credits) (45 hours)

The general course Peace and non-violent conflict transformation is a course aimed at students from all bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes at the University of Padua and University staff.
It is offered as a 6-credit elective course, at the end of which an examination is scheduled.

The course forms part of the initiatives promoted and supported by the Network of Italian Universities for Peace (RUniPace), established on the initiative of the Conference of Rectors of Italian Universities (CRUI). At a time when wars are spreading and human rights are being violated globally, with an unprecedented regression, the GC is a concrete response by the University in seeking to contribute to the implementation of Goals 16 Peace, justice and strong institutions and 4.7 of the 2030 Agenda, by providing the knowledge and skills needed to promote a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and the enhancement of global diversity.

The course has an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary structure and draws on the collaboration of lecturers from various University departments and from RUniPace. The course develops around six main themes:

• Peace studies;
• Peace, non-violence, disarmament;
• Understanding and analysing conflict;
• Peace interventions and human security;
• Educating for peace;
• Sport and peace: the Olympic Truce.

Particularly significant will be the participation of experts and witnesses from civil society organisations and local authorities engaged in peacebuilding processes "from the neighbourhood to the UN".
The course is an opportunity to learn about the ideas and proposals of Fondazione PerugiAssisi per la Cultura della Pace, the Rete Nazionale delle Scuole di Pace and the Coordinamento Nazionale degli Enti Locali per la Pace e i Diritti Umani; the non-violent interposition actions of Operazione Colomba, the Campagna per un Ministero della Pace, the Progetto di Dipartimento per la difesa civile, non armata e nonviolenta, the International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the campaigns “Italia, ripensaci” and “Fermiamo il riarmo”, and the experimentation of the Corpi Civili di Pace. It is also an opportunity to learn about the important role that Cities play in building peace at local and international level.

Within the framework of the University of Padua’s third mission activities, the GC is also offered as a “single course” to anyone interested in furthering their cultural knowledge, regardless of their educational qualification.

The general course takes place in person during the period March-May 2026, in room L of Palazzo del Bo, usually on Friday afternoons from 14.30 to 18.30. Start of classes: 6 March 2026.