We are pleased to share that Ms. Katarzyna Anna Przybyła, lecturer at Collegium Civitas, took part in the Aurora International Peace Conference 2025, held from February 17 to 21, 2025, at the University of Innsbruck.

The conference, themed “The Role of Higher Education in Peacebuilding”, brought together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world to explore how universities can contribute to fostering peace, preventing conflict, and supporting post-war recovery.

In her presentation titled “Teaching Peace in a ‘Border’ Country: Lessons Learned from Introducing Peace and Conflict Studies Courses and Master’s Program in Poland”, Ms. Przybyła discussed the challenges and achievements of integrating peace and conflict studies into academic curricula in Poland. She highlighted the unique perspectives of a country located at the intersection of historical and contemporary geopolitical tensions.

Ms. Katarzyna A. Przybyła is the founder of the Strategic Peace and Conflict Studies specialization at Collegium Civitas, which she co-led in cooperation with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) until 2022. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Manitoba in Canada.

The Aurora International Peace Conference 2025, organized by the Aurora European Universities Alliance in collaboration with several international institutions, served as a platform for dialogue on the transformative role of higher education in promoting global peace.

For more information about the conference, visit the official website.