The Effects of Peace Studies Program A Qualitative Analysis of Graduates at the University of Duhok through Focus Group Selection

Abstract

The current study is attempting to explore and evaluate the effect of Peace Studies programs upon the University of Duhok in terms of the effect it has on graduates of this rare and novel specialization in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and how they are performing and contributing in the labor market after graduation. A Participatory Research approach has been used in the study to interact with participants and get information from them to achieve the objectives of the study. A focus group of nine faculty members from Peace Studies Department have participated in the study as secondary researchers to guide the researcher to right direction and choose graduates of the department to be interviewed. Thirteen graduates from different levels of study (bachelor, postgraduate diploma, master, and PhD) have been selected for the study. All of them are performing and are effective in education sector, civil society (NGO), and public sector. The study has reached to some important findings and recommendations that would help to develop academic curricula and programs in line with needs of labor market and society. Although the graduates of various batches have joined government offices, private companies and civil institutions and organizations, there is no research or study to evaluate the effect of this specialized field on individuals and society at large. This study formulates the problem of the study, which is to know the effect of Peace Studies programs on graduates of the University of Duhok, and how the knowledge obtained from the study programs shape the perceptions and points of view of the students after graduation in different fields of specialization. This study is important to assess the outcomes of this specialization in terms of how it could operate in the job market and bring positive change at individual and societal levels. Furthermore, the study employs participatory approach that is rare in applied research within the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. By employing this approach, the study is grounded in the values and practices of Peace Studies by bringing in key stakeholders to the research process and utilizing them as secondary researchers; this allows for a rigorous scientific study. This study consists of four main sections. The first section of the study is concerned with the theoretical and conceptual framework of the field of study of Peace Studies. The second section is focused on the methodology and the research procedures used in the current study. The third section includes results of interviews conducted with participants in the study. The fourth section included an analysis of results of the interviews that ends with the most important findings and recommendations for developing the field of Peace Studies programs at the University of Duhok.