IPDM is mandated to organize and conduct peace education, peace research and peace action.
The Peace Education Department serves as IPDM’s vanguard unit in developing programs and activities that would raise people’s awareness on the desirability of non-violent and peaceful settlement of conflicts. It is also the unit responsible for demonstrating the viability of transforming negative attitudes into desirable values necessary for building individuals and communities resilient to violent conflict.
Peace Education Projects:
The activities of IPDM’s Peace Education Department however are not necessarily limited to the above list. In fact, it is currently expanding its seminar topics in such areas as: Indigenous Knowledge Systems; Responsible Parenting; Environmental Stewardship in Islam; Climate Change and Adaptation; Leadership; Human Rights; and others.
A prime function of the Peace Research Department is to conduct studies on a wide range of topics concerning the peace and order situation in Mindanao. These include issues on the GPH-MILF Peace Process, gender and conflict in Mindanao, Rido and clan feuding, and traditional mediation and conflict management etc. These research undertakings are carried out with the intention of producing sound policy briefs and recommendations based on empirical data.
In 2012, the Research Department has embarked on two major studies, namely (1) Baseline Study on the Knowledge and Perceptions of MSU-IIT constituents on the GPH-MILF Peace Process and (2) Assessment of the needs of Rido-affected students. The first study determined knowledge gaps amongst people vis-à-vis the peace process that the academia and other institutions must address through massive information campaigns to curb out misunderstandings and erase long held biases. The second study aimed at identifying the special needs of Rido-affected students and recommending the possibility of establishing a support system for these students. Previous IPDM teams completed researches on (1) the Role of women in post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation of Kauswagan and Kolambugan in Lanao del Norte and (2)Transition Coping Strategies of women in Poona Piagapo, Lanao del Norte during the 2000 all-out-war. These studies determined the challenges and problems encountered by women in conflict areas in Mindanao and the roles they play as active actors in the promotion of peace.
In 2013, the research department aims to embark on studies that revolve around the following themes:
The Peace Research Department also organizes fora and seminars to bring together people from the academe and from various other groups such as civil society organizations, AFP, PNP, LGU, and indigenous peoples to discuss relevant issues that affect the peace and order situation in Mindanao.
Lastly, this department also conducts capacity-building trainings and seminars to train teachers and students in conducting conflict-sensitive researches.
Peace Research Projects:
Peace Action is the arm of the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM) which translates the teachings and outputs of IPDM’s Peace Education and Peace Research into immediate and positive impacts on people’s lives. Further, Peace Action also caters to needs arising from changing times such as the use of film, arts, and social media in peacebuilding. It also addresses the cultural diversity of the Philippines and provides a venue where such diversity can be discussed and appreciated.
Peace Action Projects:
MSU-IIT Youth Chain of Peace (MYCoP) is a non-profit student volunteer organization under the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM) of the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technolgy. It is organized to promote a deeper understanding of the Culture of Peace (COP) among students, to help build and/or strengthen relationships between students and other constituents of MSU-IIT, and to provide an avenue for students to participate in peace related activities.
MYCoP envisions to be a tripartite youth organization committed to holistic peace, transcending differences in cultural identities, religions, and ideologies.
Its mission is to provide a venue for young individuals who want to engage and promote peace through: