Introducing Dr Colins Imoh – PhD, SFHEA , Assistant Professor in Peace Studies and International Development, University of Bradford, UK
Department / Research Area: Peace Studies and International Development (PSID)
Email Contact: c.imoh@bradford.ac.uk
In 2024, a research visit brought me to Atlantic Technological University, Donegal, Ireland, funded by the World Technology Universities Network. It was there, alongside my colleagues Dr Sharon McLaughlin and Dr Cormac Conaghan, that a vital question sparked our curiosity: how does a generation born entirely into peace view a history they never personally witnessed?
My wider research focuses on the deeply intertwined relationships between justice, peacebuilding, democracy, diversity, and inclusion. At its core, I am driven by a desire to understand how societies heal and move forward. When we look at Ireland and Northern Ireland, we look at a region shaped by a monumental milestone. Signed over 26 years ago on April 10, 1998, the landmark Good Friday Agreement (GFA) brought an end to three decades of violent conflict known as the Troubles. It was a masterclass in political compromise and power-sharing.
But fast forward to today, and the landscape looks entirely different. The vast majority of current university students were born post-1998. They have no direct memories of the conflict. This realised truth inspired our collaborative project: investigating the current awareness, understanding, and perceptions of the GFA among university students across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
In practice, our research explores the subtle, social undercurrents of a post-conflict society. Peace is more than just the absence of active violence or a formal structure signed on paper; it must be internalised to be sustainable. Through a 15-minute online survey and targeted focus group discussions, we are asking young people how they form their opinions, where they gather historical information, and how the lingering legacy of the Troubles might still influence their modern interpersonal relationships.
This is fundamentally a study of intergenerational peacebuilding. By examining how these post-agreement cohorts navigate their realities, we gain invaluable data to design better educational and civic programmes. The GFA was an agreement to manage political and societal diversity peacefully. By looking at the sociological and educational mechanisms that either sustain or undermine this harmony over time, we help policymakers move beyond static treaties and look toward deep, cultural healing.
This project is a proud testament to the power of global network collaboration. What began as a dialogue between the University of Bradford and ATU has evolved into a cross-border exploration of institutional resilience and societal inclusion. However, to truly capture the full picture, we need to expand our reach.
We are currently looking to connect with academics, student unions, and civil society contacts across both Ireland and Northern Ireland who can help us recruit young participants for our surveys and focus groups. Your local expertise and networks would be invaluable to the success of this study. Looking even further ahead, the questions we are asking here are not unique to Ireland. From the Balkans to parts of the African continent, understanding how the next generation inherits peace is a universal, global challenge.
Ultimately, we hope our findings will shape future youth policies and ensure that the peace achieved a quarter-century ago remains resilient, participatory, and deeply rooted in the generations to come.
How to work with Dr Imoh:
I am eager to connect with researchers, student leaders, and institutional partners across the WTUN who can assist in sharing our participant survey or who are working on intergenerational peace studies. c.imoh@bradford.ac.uk
About:
Dr Colins Imoh is an Assistant Professor in Peace Studies and International Development at the University of Bradford, UK. His research examines the vital intersections of justice, peacebuilding, diversity, and democratic literacy. Driven by the conviction that sustainable peace demands more than the mere absence of violence, his work addresses how to build robust democracies within deeply unequal societies. As an active global collaborator, Dr Imoh regularly contributes to international peace education frameworks, developing practical, inclusive strategies for community integration and societal conflict resolution worldwide.
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