Scientific Committee
The Scientific Committee of the Summer Peace University defines the academic and research direction of the program. It ensures that the SPU’s teaching, research, and international partnerships maintain the highest scientific and ethical standards.
Composed of professors, diplomats, researchers, and policy experts from universities across four continents, the Committee works to bridge disciplines and cultures. Its role is to curate the academic structure, approve course proposals, and supervise the design of the Peace Labs and the annual SPU White Paper.
The Committee represents a wide range of expertise: political science, international relations, economics, environmental studies, cultural anthropology, and philosophy. Its members guide the creation of a coherent curriculum that connects analytical skills with moral awareness and practical experience.
Through continuous consultation, the Scientific Committee maintains an open dialogue among partner universities, ensuring alignment with SPU’s global mission. It also provides mentorship to students and faculty, contributing to the excellence and credibility that distinguish SPU as a unique educational model.
Salvatore La Porta
Calabrian Institute of International Policies, Italy
President
BIO
President
Calabrian Institute of International Policies
Calabrian Institute of International Policies
Pavel Malyzhenkov
University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
Coordinator
BIO
Research Fellow in the Department of Economics and Business, University of Tuscia (Viterbo, Italy)
Prakash Sharma
Crown Institute, Nepal
Coordinator for Asia
BIO
Director of Crown Pvt Ltd.
An expert working in development sector dealing with private sector development, SMEs,Entrepreneurship development, gender mainstreaming, informal economy with 18 years of experience at the International Labor Organization
An expert working in development sector dealing with private sector development, SMEs,Entrepreneurship development, gender mainstreaming, informal economy with 18 years of experience at the International Labor Organization
Taha Mattar
Galala University, Egypt
Coordinator for the Africa and Middle East Region
BIO
Egyptian State Prize in Advanced Technological Sciences,
Former Egyptian Cultural and Scientific Attaché in Italy,
Former president of CMRDI, Egypt,
Ex-President of TIMS, Egypt,
Professor @ Galala University, Egypt
Member in Scientific Committee, ISCAPI, Calabria, Italy
Former Egyptian Cultural and Scientific Attaché in Italy,
Former president of CMRDI, Egypt,
Ex-President of TIMS, Egypt,
Professor @ Galala University, Egypt
Member in Scientific Committee, ISCAPI, Calabria, Italy
Samyukta Bhandari
International Scientific Committee
Secretary
BIO
A distinguished Development Sector Professional with a rich background in program management, counseling, law, finance, and administration.
Carlo Parisi
Italian Federation of Journalism, Publishing and Communication - FIGEC, Italia
Scientific Director Communications Committee
BIO
Editor-in-Chief of Giornalisti Italia and Secretary General of the Italian Federation of Journalism, Publishing and Communication (FIGEC).
Professional journalist, editor of Giornalisti Italia, National Council member of the Order of Journalists, with extensive experience in journalism, trade unions and social security
Professional journalist, editor of Giornalisti Italia, National Council member of the Order of Journalists, with extensive experience in journalism, trade unions and social security
Dinesh Raj Bhuju
Mid-West University Institute of Cooperation and Development Nepal
Member
BIO
Dr. Dinesh Raj Bhuju, an Academician at the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology and Professor at Mid-West University specializes in ecological research, climatic impacts on the Himalayas, and science communication.
Massimiliano Bencardino
University of Salerno, Italy
Member
BIO
Dr. Massimiliano Bencardino, Professor of Economic and Political Geography at the University of Salerno, specializing in territorial planning, sustainable development, tourism and regional policies.
María Paula Awe Luca
National University of Rio Negro, Argentina
Member
BIO
Professor of Environmental Paradigms in Environmental Science (UNRN, Argentina) and assistant professor of International Politics in Political Science (UNCo, Argentina).
Rania Mageed
May University in Cairo, Egypt
Member
BIO
Dr. Rania Mageed is Director of the International Education Office at May University in Cairo, with over 20 years of experience in international education, student mobility, and academic partnerships. She actively promotes intercultural dialogue, peace education, and global engagement through cross-border collaboration and institutional development.
Dorota Zuchowska
AKSiM, Poland
Member
BIO
A distinguished Professor of Economics and Finance, Dr. Dorota Zuchowska is an expert in monetary policy, international economic relations, and a skilled media trainer. She is currently working as Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences and Multimedia Communication, AKSiM, Poland
Ahmed Elshazly
Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development, Egypt
Member
BIO
The Director of the Sponsored Programs, Centers and International Relations at Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development and SEKEM.
Narayan Tiwari
Crown Institute of Higher Education (CIHE), Australia
Member
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CEO of the Crown Institute of Higher Education (CIHE), Australia
Masood Abdulkareem Abdulrahman
Duhok Polytechnic University, Iraq
Member
BIO
Dr. Masood Abdulkareem Abdulrahman is an Assistant Professor of Community Medicine and a senior academic leader at Duhok Polytechnic University (DPU), Kurdistan Region of Iraq. With a distinguished career spanning over three decades in healthcare and higher education, he has served as Dean of Shekhan Technical Institute (2017–2023) and Dean of the College of Health and Medical Technology (2017–2024). He has also been the Local Coordinator of the APPRAIS Project (Erasmus+), Head of the Quality Board for TVET2 Iraq, and Coordinator of DPU’s Institutional Strategic Plan for University Reform.
Tony Urbani
University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
Member
BIO
Assistant Professor in Social Geography, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
Tony Urbani focuses on social geography theory and research methods, investigating the spatial dimensions of social capital in relation to health, happiness, technology, inclusive welfare policies, and degrowth.
Tony Urbani focuses on social geography theory and research methods, investigating the spatial dimensions of social capital in relation to health, happiness, technology, inclusive welfare policies, and degrowth.
Aynul Islam
University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Member
BIO
Professor Aynul Islam is a distinguished academic and policy expert in political science at the University of Dhaka, where he also leads the Applied Democracy Lab (ADL). He serves as Senior Consultant for the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Asia-Pacific and is adjunct faculty at North South University, Dhaka. His research focuses on micro-level political dynamics, the foundations of conflict and violence, and the evolving geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific region.
Mezbah-Ul-Azam Sowdagar
Jagannath University, Bangladesh
Member
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Chairman Political Science (2022-07-12 to Continue)
Jagannath University
Associate Professor (2020-08-20 to Continue)
Jagannath University
Assistant Professor (2012-02-02 to 2020-08-19)
Jagannath University
Jagannath University
Associate Professor (2020-08-20 to Continue)
Jagannath University
Assistant Professor (2012-02-02 to 2020-08-19)
Jagannath University
Shadwa Esmat
Galala University, Egypt
Member
BIO
Dr. Shadwa Esmat is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Management with extensive academic, research, and program leadership experience across Egypt, the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. She currently serves as Program Director for both Economics & Political Science and Business Administration (Dual Degree with ASU) at Galala University. Dr. Esmat earned her PhD in Public Administration from Cairo University, conducting part of her doctoral research at George Washington University as a Fulbright Scholar. She also holds an M.Sc. in Public Policy from KDI School, South Korea.
Elton Skendaj
Mediterranean University of Albania, Albania
Member
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Elton Skendaj, is Director of International Relations & Erasmus+ Projects Office at the Mediterranean University of Albania.
Amit M.Lathigara
RK University, India
Member
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Dr. Lathigara is an Dean of Faculty of Technology and Vice Chancellor (I/C) of RK University, India.Dr. Lathigara brings extensive expertise in engineering education and administration.