Mangaluru: The School of Arts and Humanities at St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, will organise a two-day International Conference on “Promoting Peaceful and Inclusive Societies for Sustainable Development” on January 28 and 29, 2026, at the University campus. The conference is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16), which focuses on building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.

The international conference aims to bring together academicians, researchers, policymakers, professionals, and students from India and abroad to engage in meaningful deliberations on peace-building, inclusive institutions, human rights, governance, and the role of technology and artificial intelligence in fostering social harmony and sustainable development.

Inaugural session on January 28

The conference will be inaugurated on January 28, 2026, at 10.00 a.m. at LF Rasquinha Hall.
Mr Darshan H V, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, will inaugurate the conference, while Rev. Fr Dionysius Vaz SJ, Chancellor of St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), will preside over the inaugural session.

The keynote address will be delivered by Dr Shanthie M D’Souza, Founder and President of the Mantraya Institute of Strategic Studies (MISS), Senior Research Fellow at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Visiting Faculty at the Naval War College, Goa. She will speak on the central theme, “Peaceful and Inclusive Societies.”

International and national speakers

The conference will feature a distinguished panel of national and international scholars and experts, including:

  • Dr Krishna Raj, Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru
  • Rev. Dr Joachim Andrade, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Brazil
  • Dr Ute Ritz-Deutch, Binghamton University, USA
  • Dr Alexandru Balas, SUNY Cortland, New York, USA

Their sessions will address contemporary global challenges related to peace, governance, democracy, inclusion, and sustainability.

Panel discussion and technical sessions

A special panel discussion will feature Mr Raju K, KAS, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada, who will speak on “Strengthening Institutions to Promote Peaceful Societies.”

Other panelists include:

  • Fr Rosan Roy SJ, Assistant Director, LIPI, Kochi, on “Cultivating Peace Narratives in Higher Education: Approaches and Pathways”
  • Prof. Rajram Tolpady, Former Professor of Political Science, Mangalore University, on “Violence and Nonviolence?: For a Sustainable Society”
  • Dr Ruksana Hassan, Child Psychologist, on “Building Peaceful Communities”

The programme will also include technical sessions with paper presentations across multiple parallel halls, along with a cultural programme reflecting the theme of peace and inclusion.

Valedictory session and publications

The valedictory session will be held on January 29, 2026, at 3.00 p.m., with ACP Geetha D Kulkarni as the Chief Guest. Rev. Dr Praveen Martis SJ, Vice Chancellor of St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), will preside over the valedictory ceremony.

Selected papers presented during the conference will be published in ISBN/ISSN conference proceedings, and a few outstanding papers will be considered for publication in peer-reviewed journals with DOI, ensuring wider academic reach and impact.

International collaboration and organisation

The conference is being organised in collaboration with international academic partners, including Sophia University, Tokyo (Japan), SUNY Cortland (USA), and the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (Brazil). The event is sponsored by Global Degrees, reflecting strong global academic cooperation.

Members present at the press briefing included Rev. Dr Melwyn D’Cunha, Pro Vice Chancellor; Dr Rose Veera D’Souza, Chairperson; Mr Alwin D’Souza, Convenor; Dr Roshan Monteiro, Organising Secretary; and Ms Chandrakala, PRO.

Media representatives, academicians, students, and the general public have been cordially invited to attend and cover this significant international academic event.

For more details, please contact:

Dr Rose Veera D’Souza
Dean, School of Arts and Humanities
St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru
📞 Mobile: 9448026838

Mr Alwyn D’Souza
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science
Conference Convener
St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru
📞 Mobile: 7353997590

Ms Devishree Shetty
Assistant Professor, Department of Media Studies
Conference Convener
St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru
📞 Mobile: 9900971155