Moin Uddin: On Lifelong Learning and Global Impact
Moin Uddin’s journey to the Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (MPACS) program is a powerful testament to his dedication and passion for creating a better world. After earning his bachelor's degree in business administration with a major in international marketing from the University of Chittagong, Moin seized a life-changing opportunity to join the United Nations as a contingent member of peacekeeping mission in the role of Liaison and Public Relations (cum Interpreter) officer, in Côte d’Ivoire. This pivotal moment not only set his career path towards peacebuilding but also ignited a lifelong commitment to global peace and development.
With over 11 years of experience, Moin’s journey has taken him around the world, shaping his perspectives and experiences. Originally from Bangladesh, he has always been driven by a desire to explore the world and uncover new opportunities. His diverse experiences, combined with his research interests in development, peace, and human security, have reinforced his belief that lifelong learning is a key component for continuous peacebuilding and trauma healing.
Seeking to deepen his understanding of conflict resolution, he had a long-term dream of higher education beyond his home country. After four and a half years with the UN peacekeeping, Moin returned to Bangladesh to focus on this dream. His search led him to the Rotary Peace Fellowship in Japan, where he studied international relations, conflict, and security. This experience provided him with a deeper understanding of peace and conflict in various parts of the world and continued to inspire his passion and dedication. It wasn’t until years later that he discovered the MPACS program at the University of Waterloo, which turned out to be the perfect fit for him. The program focuses on a variety of topics that Moin is passionate about, allowing him to further his knowledge and apply his experiences in a meaningful way.
Moin’s time in Japan taught him that every peace centre has a unique vision, and that peace is defined differently across the globe. “When I was in Japan, my thought was that peace is stability, but when a country is under deprivation of stability, they are simply trying to survive. For them, the concept of peace is different,” he reflects. This realization led him to a lifelong dedication to peacebuilding, with a focus on resilience building.
After returning to Bangladesh from Japan, Moin was deeply moved by the difficulty that Rohingya refugees were facing and felt called to make a difference. “I’m ready to take on a challenge. That’s why I’m here. I want to learn and get experience being on the ground rather than a regional or head office job”, he explains. Moin secured a position as Field Coordinator in the remote border area of Teknaf, Bangladesh and worked directly with the Rohingya community, gaining firsthand experience in emergency response and program management. This role allowed him to understand the complexities of refugee crises, the importance of ground-level interventions, and the critical need for trauma healing and community engagement. His work with the Rohingya community reinforced his commitment to peacebuilding and the critical impact of dedicated humanitarian efforts in crisis situations.
Facing challenges in his field in Bangladesh, Moin began to search for his next opportunity. His journey led him to the MPACS program at the University of Waterloo. Drawn by the program’s emphasis on deepening knowledge on conflict analysis and negotiation, he saw it as the ideal environment to further develop his skills and expand his understanding of global peace efforts.
The program’s diverse courses, including PACS: 602: Reflective Peace Practice, PACS 605: Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding and PACS 603: Engaging Communities in Social Change, have broadened Moin’s perspectives and expanded his thinking. In particular, he enjoys the roundtable scenarios and decision-making processes, which have taught him how to find common ground amongst people of differing opinions.
“The MPACS program has given me insights that I have never experienced though my previous academic experiences,” Moin shares. The various perspectives are not just shaping his studies but will continue to guide his professional journey after graduation.
An experienced peace practitioner, Moin emphasizes that the benefits of the MPACS program extend far beyond traditional peacebuilding roles. The knowledge, critical thinking, and negotiation skills cultivated in the program have equipped him to make meaningful contributions in any field. His journey is a testament to the power of lifelong learning and the impact of stepping beyond one’s comfort zone in pursuit of change.
By Brooke Driscoll