International Scope
Joint Peace Studies to Strengthen WSU’s Asia Program

JAPAN’S INTERNATIONAL Christian University (ICU) and Washington State University held a reception on the ICU campus in Tokyo October 19 to inaugurate a new joint program for research and curriculum development in peace and security studies. ICU is promoting projects in peace studies with other universities and research institutes in Japan, East Asia, and Europe; it is the recipient of a national Center of Excellence Award from Japan ’s Ministry of Education to complete the project.

WSU, the only American university in that consortium, already has signed a president’s agreement for research and educational collaboration in peace studies, model United Nations service-learning projects, gender studies, and related initiatives. Other participating universities include the Free University of Brussels, University of Cologne, University of Munster, Seoul National University, Ewha Women’s University, Yonsei University, and Taipei National University.

ICU and WSU representatives will plan a series of meetings and work sessions to discuss the details of collaboration on the peace and security partnership. Both schools have already identified 15-20 faculty members from each side to participate in the project.