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.
Dr. Salvatore La Porta
Istituto Calabrese di Politiche Internazionali, Italy
President
BIO
President of the Calabrian International Politics Institute (IsCaPI – istituto Calabrese di Politiche Internazionali)
Dr. Pavel Malyzhenkov
University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
Coordinator
BIO
Research Fellow in the Department of Economics and Business, University of Tuscia (Viterbo, Italy)
Mr. 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
Dr. Taha Mattar
Coordinator for the Africa and middle east region
Coordinator for Africa
BIO
gyptian 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.
Dr. 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.
Ahmed is a coordinator of several research and capacity building projects funded by national and international funding bodies. He was the national representative of Egypt in the 1st Global Planning Meeting for the UN Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development. He is a member of the Jean Monnet Center of Excellence on Sustainable Blue Economy. He participated in COP 27, 28 and 29 of the UNFCCC and COP16 of the UNCCD.
He is an Associate Professor of Marine Geology at Alexandria University. He has his PhD in 2016 in a joint supervision program between Alexandria University, Egypt and University of Sassari, Italy.
Ahmed is a coordinator of several research and capacity building projects funded by national and international funding bodies. He was the national representative of Egypt in the 1st Global Planning Meeting for the UN Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development. He is a member of the Jean Monnet Center of Excellence on Sustainable Blue Economy. He participated in COP 27, 28 and 29 of the UNFCCC and COP16 of the UNCCD.
He is an Associate Professor of Marine Geology at Alexandria University. He has his PhD in 2016 in a joint supervision program between Alexandria University, Egypt and University of Sassari, Italy.
Dr. 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.
Dr.Narayan Tiwari
Crown Institute of Higher Education (CIHE), Australia
Member
BIO
CEO of the Crown Institute of Higher Education (CIHE), Australia
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).
Elton Skendaj
Mediterranean University of Albania, Albania
Member
BIO
Elton Skendaj, is Director of International Relations & Erasmus+ Projects Office at the Mediterranean University of Albania.
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.
Dr.
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.
Dr.Amit M.Lathigara
RK University, India
Member
BIO
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.
Dr. Dorota Zuchowska
Faculty of Social Sciences and Multimedia Communication, 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
Dr. Rania Mageed
Director of the International Education Office at May University
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.
Md. Mezbah-Ul-Azam Sowdagar
Associate Professor Md. Mezbah-Ul-Azam Sowdagar Jagannath University
Member
BIO
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
Lecturer (0000-00-00 to Continue)
Jagannath University
Lecturer (0000-00-00 to Continue)
Dhamrai Government College
Jagannath University
Associate Professor (2020-08-20 to Continue)
Jagannath University
Assistant Professor (2012-02-02 to 2020-08-19)
Jagannath University
Lecturer (0000-00-00 to Continue)
Jagannath University
Lecturer (0000-00-00 to Continue)
Dhamrai Government College
Dr. Aynul Islam
Prof Dr. Aynul Islam University of Dhaka
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.
Dr. Shadwa Esmat
Director of Economics & Political Science, and Business Administration Dual Degree Programs, Galala University
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.
Dr. Masood Abdulkareem Abdulrahman
Assistant Professor of Community Medicine, Duhok Polytechnic University
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.