SHAPE-SEA successfully concluded its Writeshop Skills-Training on Human Rights and Peace Studies from 28 to 30 May 2025 at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, Vietnam. The event gathered emerging scholars and grantees from across Southeast Asia under the 2024 cycle of the Research Grants Programme (RGP) to hone their research, writing, and advocacy skills.
The three-day writeshop was designed to help participants strengthen their academic outputs while also equipping them with the tools to engage broader audiences, including policymakers and civil society. Each session focused on a different facet of effective knowledge production and public engagement.
Asst. Prof. Yanuar Sumarlan of the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University, opened the sessions by emphasizing the importance of a clear, focused abstract: “The abstract is the researcher’s grand plan in brief,” he said. “It should clearly outline what the study aims to do, why it matters, and how one plans to do it.” He stressed that a strong abstract and introduction are foundational to the clarity and coherence of the entire study.
On the second day, Dr. Patricia Rinwigati Waagstein from the Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia, led a session on writing impactful policy briefs. She highlighted their role in translating academic research into real-world policy action: “A strong policy brief bridges research and decision-making. It should be concise, persuasive, and grounded in evidence, highlighting key findings and practical recommendations for change.”
In a session on advocacy materials development, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Khoo Ying Hooi of Universiti Malaya, Malaysia, encouraged participants to transform their research into compelling advocacy tools. “Clarity, visual storytelling, and audience engagement are key to driving impact beyond academia,” she explained.
For many participants, the writesvhop was more than just a training, it was a space to rethink their role as scholar-advocates. “This writeshop reminded us that research does not exist in a vacuum,” shared Casey Cruz, grantee from MA Human Rights in Mahidol University. “It must speak to the struggles of our communities, and our responsibility as researchers is to bridge knowledge with action.”
By promoting a culture of critical inquiry and socially engaged scholarship, SHAPE-SEA continues to support the development of academic leaders who can influence both thought and practice in the field of human rights and peace. The recent writeshop marks a significant step in that journey—blending research excellence with advocacy to generate meaningful regional impact.
Through initiatives like this, SHAPE-SEA is not only building capacity in academic writing and policy engagement but also cultivating a new generation of scholar-advocates who are equipped to respond to pressing social challenges. By creating spaces where knowledge is co-created, critiqued, and connected to action, the programme reinforces the belief that academic work can and must contribute to shaping more just, inclusive, and peaceful societies in Southeast Asia.
As grantees return to their respective institutions and communities, they carry with them refined tools, deeper insights, and a renewed commitment to making their research matter—beyond publications, beyond classrooms, and into the heart of advocacy and change, helping to mainstream the language of human rights and peace across various fields. #
