SDG16

Carter School marks first year leading UN academic network on peace and justice

ckearney — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:24:45 +0000

Carter School marks first year leading UN academic network on peace and justice ckearney Tue, 08/11/2026 - 13:24

One year after becoming the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) Hub Chair for Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at 91�� is expanding its role as a global convener of research, education, and partnerships aimed at advancing peace and sustainable development.

Dean Özerdem with colleagues at UN Sustainable Development Goal Hub meeting. Photo provided

The appointment positioned the Carter School at the center of an international network of universities working to advance SDG 16, one of the Sustainable Development Goals that underpins progress across the entire 2030 Agenda.

For Dean Alpaslan Özerdem, the first year has reinforced an important lesson: Universities have an increasingly important role to play in addressing complex global challenges.

"Serving as the UNAI SDG 16 Hub Chair has never been about institutional prestige," said Özerdem. "Our goal has been to demonstrate that universities can become trusted global conveners, bringing together scholars, students, practitioners, and policymakers to translate knowledge into action."

Rather than creating another academic network, the Carter School has focused on building an international platform that connects research, teaching, outreach, and practice. Working alongside vice chairs at the University of Oxford, Narxoz University in Kazakhstan, and the University for Peace in Costa Rica, the Hub has emphasized collaboration across regions and disciplines while placing students and early-career scholars at the center of its activities.

That approach reflects the Carter School's broader philosophy that peacebuilding today requires expertise extending beyond traditional conflict resolution.

"Peace today intersects with technology, climate change, governance, migration, public health, and many other fields," Özerdem said. "Universities are uniquely positioned to bring these different perspectives together."

Peace Week 2026 enable participants in a variety of talks and activities. Photo by R. Sison/Office of University Branding

The coming year will build on that momentum. The Carter School plans to deepen engagement with students and young professionals while expanding partnerships across the UNAI network. A key initiative will be the Carter School's upcoming Peace Week, which will bring together universities, international organizations, and practitioners to explore emerging approaches to peace, justice, and institutional resilience.

Faculty members involved in the Hub say the initiative has created new opportunities for international collaboration and applied research, while students have benefited from greater engagement with UN practitioners and global experts working at the intersection of policy and peacebuilding.

That student engagement has also translated into opportunities for students to take an active role in shaping the Hub’s programming and creating spaces for emerging scholars to contribute to global conversations.

“This spring, as students involved with the UNAI SDG 16 Hub, we organized the SDG 16 Graduate Student Research Symposium, bringing together 36 graduate researchers from 19 universities across the globe,” said Carter School PhD student Kamran Mamedovi. “The symposium created a space for emerging scholars to exchange ideas across borders and disciplines and demonstrated the power of the SDG 16 Hub to connect diverse perspectives and give the next generation of scholars a meaningful voice in global conversations on peace, justice, and sustainable development.”

As the international community enters the final years of the 2030 Agenda, the Carter School sees the Hub as an opportunity to demonstrate how universities can move beyond generating knowledge to helping solve global challenges.

In This Story

Alpaslan Özerdem

This research supports the Grand Challenge Initiative's goal of Strengthening Peace, Trust, and Engagement in Democracy

Discover more GCI democracy research

Learn about other solutions >>

Topics

Campus News

Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

GCI-Democracy

Carter School News

SDG16

Global summit looks at the future of education

Katarina Benson — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 16:17:45 +0000

Global summit looks at the future of education Katarina Benson Fri, 07/25/2025 - 12:17

In This Story

Alpaslan Özerdem

Alpaslan Özerdem, dean of 91��’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, recently participated in discussions at the 2025 Global Higher Education Symposium, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on July 18.

Özerdem was invited in his capacity as the chair of the United Nations Academic Impact Hub for Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions—a leadership role held by the Carter School through 2027. At the invitation-only symposium, thought leaders were discussing UNESCO’s Reimagining our futures together: A new social contract for education report, which asks three guiding questions to help envision education beyond 2050: What should we continue doing? What should we abandon? And, what needs to be creatively invented afresh?

A high-level dialogue focused on rethinking the purpose and design of higher education in light of rapid global change, Özerdem emphasized that in an era marked by political volatility and deepening societal divisions, higher education institutions must rise to the challenge of becoming credible and reliable partners to the public.

Dean Özerdem with colleagues at UN Sustainable Development Goal Hub meeting. Photo provided

“As universities, we hold a distinct and urgent responsibility—not only to foster democratic values but also to help rebuild public trust by championing truth, transparency, and the integrity of knowledge,” he said.

The symposium highlighted the potential of universities to play a far more prominent role in shaping the future. As articulated in the group’s consensus statement, “Higher education institutions can demonstrate responsible leadership that anticipates and addresses long-term individual and collective readiness for economic, environmental, and social challenges—including climate resilience, peacebuilding, and community impact.”

The SDG16 Hub is a global initiative that brings together universities, scholars, and students to advance more peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. Under the Carter School’s leadership, the hub collaborates with three vice chairs—the University of Oxford (UK), University for Peace (Costa Rica), and Narxoz University (Kazakhstan).

George Mason’s engagement in this high-level platform further cements its reputation as a thought leader in peace and conflict resolution, while opening exciting new pathways for research collaboration, student engagement, and global visibility. As the first school in the United States serving as a hub chair, the Carter School represents the George Mason community on the world stage and contributes to shaping the next social contract for education—one that places peace, justice, and human dignity at its core.

Topics

Campus News

Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

United Nations

GCI-Grand Challenge Initiative

hub

Carter School News

SDG16

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The Carter School named a United Nations Academic Impact Sustainable Development Goal Hub Chair

Katarina Benson — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 17:51:09 +0000

The Carter School named a United Nations Academic Impact Sustainable Development Goal Hub Chair Katarina Benson Wed, 01/15/2025 - 12:51

The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution was named a United Nations Academic Impact Sustainable Development Goal Hub Chair for (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

There are 17 SDGs, including “No Poverty,” “Clean Water and Sanitation,” and “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.” Currently, George Mason is one of only two universities in the United States to chair a Sustainable Development Goal Hub.

Out of more than 330 applications, George Mason was selected to chair SDG 16 Hub, a position it will hold for the next three years. In a letter from the United Nations, it says George Mason “was selected based on its pioneering research and programs focused on promoting peace and conflict resolution” as well as the university’s educational policies.

As Hub Chair, the Carter School will be responsible for education and training, research, community engagement, developing partnerships, and working with other SDG hubs to strengthen and further the United Nations’ mission of peace and justice.

“This prestigious recognition highlights our school’s longstanding commitment and impactful contributions to the field of peace and conflict resolution,” said Carter School dean Alpaslan Özerdem. “As chair for SDG16, we will have the privilege and responsibility of generating, coordinating, and amplifying SDG16-related programs and activities on a global scale. This role represents not only a significant milestone for the Carter School but also an exciting new chapter in our journey toward advancing global peace, justice, and institutional resilience. It positions us to foster meaningful partnerships, drive innovative initiatives, and contribute thought leadership on critical global issues.”

Andre Marshall, George Mason’s vice president for research, innovation, and economic impact, highlighted that this new role aligns perfectly with Mason’s global challenges agenda, offering opportunities to amplify the university’s contributions to global peace and justice. “The Carter School’s successful bid to lead the United Nations Academic Impact SDG16 Hub not only elevates George Mason’s profile in the international community for sustainable development, it is also a well-deserved recognition of the Carter School and George Mason’s leadership in and commitment to producing research, scholarship, and impact that moves the needle on the world’s grand challenges,” Marshall said.

In the coming months, Özerdem will engage with academic and research units across George Mason to identify collaboration opportunities, ensuring a transformative Mason stamp on all aspects of the SDG16 agenda over the next three years.

Learn more about the Carter School