Innovation

HOPE brings together Peace Education, curriculum development, digital learning, intercultural dialogue, and international cooperation within a shared higher education framework. Its approach combines formal study with practical learning experiences, research collaboration, digital exchange, and engagement across institutions and communities.

The project builds on previous work carried out by consortium partners in intercultural learning, virtual exchange, soft-skills education, Peace Education, and dialogue. HOPE brings these strands together within a coordinated programme focused on constructive conflict resolution and reconciliation.

A Joint Peace Education Programme

At the centre of HOPE is the development of a Joint Minor Program in Peace Education. The programme will combine new and updated modules and bring Peace Education into a structured higher education curriculum.

The curriculum will address constructive conflict resolution alongside skills and competences such as critical thinking, intercultural communication, collaboration, self-awareness, media and information literacy, and digital skills.

HOPE will also test selected elements of the curriculum through pilot learning activities, allowing participating institutions to assess and refine teaching approaches during the project.

Digital Learning and Microcredentials

The HOPE Digital Campus will provide the digital infrastructure supporting the Minor Program. The funded proposal includes a Learning Management System connected with local systems, a microcredentials platform, and tools for online learning and communication.

Microcredentials will provide an additional way of recognising learning undertaken through HOPE activities. Digital learning will also allow students and educators from different institutions and locations to participate in shared educational experiences.

Learning Across Institutions

HOPE will combine classroom-based education with international and cross-institutional learning.

Planned activities include a Blended Intensive Program (BIP), Virtual Exchanges, Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), and Peace Education talks. These formats will allow students and educators to work with participants from other institutions while testing different approaches to Peace Education.

The project plans one BIP, three Virtual Exchanges, COIL activities, and a series of talks connected with Peace Education.

Constructive Dialogue as an Educational Practice

HOPE will develop approaches and protocols for constructive dialogue within and between different communities, both on university campuses and in wider community settings.

Dialogue activities will help participants identify challenges, opportunities, and practical approaches to Peace Education while providing opportunities to engage with different experiences and perspectives. The project plans structured dialogue groups as part of this work.

The Peace Education Hub

The Peace Education Hub will create a shared online space for collaboration, resource sharing, networking, and research in Peace Education.

It will connect academic and practical activities across the consortium and support cooperation among researchers in Europe and Israel. The proposal also assigns the Hub an Observatory function, allowing the project to follow developments in Peace Education, share practices, and contribute information and recommendations for future educational and policy discussions.

Connecting Education and Research

HOPE will build cross-institutional research networks involving researchers and practitioners working on Peace Education, conflict resolution, and the wider role of higher education in society.

The project will encourage collaborative research, publications, exchange of educational practice, and cooperation between European and Israeli institutions. This connection between curriculum development, teaching, research, and institutional cooperation is an important part of the HOPE approach.

A People-Centred Approach to Peace Education

The funded proposal identifies HOPE's focus on a people-centred Peace Education programme as one of its principal areas of innovation. The project places the development of constructive conflict resolution skills, attitudes, values, and practices within the everyday work of higher education institutions.

HOPE will involve students, educators, researchers, institutional staff, and stakeholders from wider society in its activities. Through this combination of formal education, dialogue, digital participation, and cooperation, the project will explore how higher education institutions can strengthen their contribution to Peace Education within and beyond the university.