UNESCO IAU

Istanbul Aydin University (IAU) is the first university in Türkiye to establish two UNESCO Chairs, pioneering global peace, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue. With the launch of the UNESCO Chair in Education for Sustainable Peace in October 2016, IAU joined a vibrant network of higher education institutions dedicated to UNESCO's mission: building a culture of peace, eliminating poverty, fostering sustainable development, and enhancing intercultural dialogue through education, science, culture, communication, and knowledge. The UNESCO Chair in Education for Sustainable Peace at IAU is dedicated to empowering the youth and creating a culture of peace through various educational initiatives. Our mission aligns with UNESCO’s overarching goal of contributing to global peace and human development. We aim to promote peace education at national, regional, and international levels, creating platforms that unite decision-makers, academics, and civil society to implement innovative and effective peacebuilding tools. Our specific short-term goals include offering peace education programs for women and youth, providing specialized training and workshops to enhance their peacebuilding skills, and establishing a research-oriented Master’s Program in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution at Istanbul Aydin University. Additionally, we are integrating mediation activities into primary and university education through various projects, creating a documentation center, and developing a comprehensive data center on conflict resolution and mediation. We are also establishing an interdisciplinary platform for researchers focused on peace culture. The vision of the UNESCO Chair at IAU is to foster a global culture of peace and dialogue through education and collaboration. We strive to promote peace education, encouraging dialogue between different cultures and groups, and empowering women to be leaders in creating a culture of peace.