A lecturer from the Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FISIPOL UGM), Suci Lestari Yuana, S.I.P., M.I.A., together with Teresa Gaia Sebayang, has recently published an international scholarly article titled “Acting Out Peace: The Role of Dramaturgy in Peace Studies in Higher Education.” The article appears in the reputable journal Teaching in Higher Education (Taylor & Francis), one of the leading global references in critical education studies.
This publication examines pedagogical innovation in teaching Peace Studies in higher education by utilizing a dramaturgical approach—such as drama, poetry, and reflective writing—to foster students’ emotional engagement and critical thinking. Drawing on teaching experiences at Universitas Gadjah Mada in 2024, the study positions the classroom as a performative space that is inseparable from social realities, including structural injustice, student protests, and global conflicts.
Through this approach, the authors demonstrate that higher education functions not only as a site for knowledge transmission, but also as a space for transformation and critical reflection on structural violence and peace practices. The findings highlight the importance of inclusive, reflective, and contextual learning methods in cultivating peace awareness among students.
This study is closely related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, by promoting peace education and strengthening social justice values. Additionally, the innovative and transformative pedagogical approach aligns with Goal 4: Quality Education, which emphasizes inclusive, participatory, and sustainability-oriented learning.
Through this publication, Suci Lestari Yuana and her team further strengthen FISIPOL UGM’s contribution to global discourse on peace education, critical pedagogy, and the role of higher education in addressing contemporary socio-political challenges, especially from a Global South perspective.