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It has been established in 1988 as an autonomous research body within the University of Florence, Faculty of Educational Sciences. The Department works in an interdisciplinary way, since it is made by sociologists, anthropologists, psychologists, historians.
Main areas of activity: Since the academic year 2001-2002 the Department organizes (together with the DISPO – Department of Political Sciences) the BA course "Operazioni di pace, gestione e mediazione dei conflitti" (Peace operations, conflict resolution and mediation). This is one of the two BA Courses established in Italy in the field of Peace and Conflict Transformation studies. Thus, the Department offers unique expertise in Italy in the fields of conflict resolution and transformation as well as mediation. A particular attention is devoted to the topic of Peace Education and training in Conflict Transformation, both at school level and at the level of vocational training / adult education. In the year 2004 the Department and the BA course staff have started a 1-year training course ("professionalization module") on societal mediation and victim-offender mediation, with 250 training hours coupled with 250 hours internship in local mediation programs.
Members of the Department cooperate in the Interregional project on "Training for Peace Workers and international mediatiors" set up by the Autonomous Province of Bozen in management, planning and teaching roles.
Expertise and experience: Organization of the BA course in "Peace operations, conflict resolution and mediation", with training in nonviolent conflict transformation as one of the main subjects; training course in social and vicitm-offender mediation; experience in cooperation: the main experience in cooperation is the coordination as leading partner of the "European Network of Universities for Peace", with special reference to the Balkans - cooperation projects with the universities of Belgrade, Sarajevo, Prishtina, as well as the Institut for Strengthening Democracy in Konji c (BiH) / Bergen (N) funded by the Italian foreign ministry). Moreover, the Department is partner in several research, training and action projects in the Region of Tuscany. These include social mediation in peripheric areas of Florence and higher education project for detainees in the function of leading partner; intercultural mediation project in the Mugello area and psychosocial training of NGO staff and other professionals in the field of conflict resolution, both as junior partner); it hosts foreign BA and MA students from abroad in the framework of the Erasmus-Socrates program.
Specific tasks: The Department has the following fields of expertise:
- theoretical expertise in the fields of adult education and training;
- evaluation of training programs in the field of conflict transformation
- linking education and training in broader conflict transformation activities
- practical experience in planning, managing and conducting training events in the field of conflict transformation (non-violent action, mediation, empowerment trainings, etc.)