CQUniversity is one of only two Australian universities accepted as founding members of a new global Consortium of Collaborating Universities established by The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT-CCU).

It joins more than 20 universities from Africa, Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, the Caribbean, Australia and the South Pacific for the newly-formed Consortium, housed at Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence and Business Management (LIUTEBM) in Lusaka, Zambia.

CQUni's Steve Noakes delivering a tourism policy and strategy workshop for UNWTO in East Africa.

Participating universities have agreed to collaborate in giving third and fourth-year university students the opportunity to research and write essays on the various dimensions of 'Peace through Tourism'.

A selection of the best essays being published by LIUTEBM will be made available to participants at the 2013 General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), being hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls in August 2013.

CQUniversity is one of only a few universities in Australia that has Affiliate member status with UNWTO, the peak intergovernmental agency for global tourism.

"The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) has emphasised the importance of drawing on the ancient wisdom, knowledge, and values of Indigenous Peoples," explained Steve Noakes, Head of the Tourism and Hospitality program at CQUniversity Australia.

"These types of international engagement activities assist a multicultural institution such as CQUniversity in our ongoing commitment to enhance the cultural competence of our students and staff."

The key area of research this year for IIPT-CCU will be 'Methods of conflict resolution and reconciliation in the ancient traditions of Indigenous Peoples'.

Student essays will also suggest how these methods might be applied in current conflict situations and the role that tourism, culture, and sport can play in contributing to the enhancement of these methods.

Students at participating universities are being invited to submit a paper up to 2500 words. A selection of the best papers will be published by LIUTEBM, with students and their teaching staff being identified as the authors. For further information, contact Steve Noakes  s.noakes@cqu.edu.au or tel 0418 774 295.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR PEACE THROUGH TOURISM

IIPT (http://www.iipt.org/ ) is dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives which contribute to international understanding and cooperation; an improved quality of environment; the preservation of heritage, poverty reduction; and the resolution of conflict. Through these initiatives, it aims to help bring about a more peaceful and sustainable world. IIPT is dedicated to mobilising travel and tourism, the world's largest industry, as the world's first 'Global Peace Industry', an industry that promotes and supports the belief that 'Every traveler is potentially an Ambassador for Peace'.