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Toh Swee-Hin (S.H.Toh)

is the inaugural Professor and Director of the Griffith University Multi-Faith Centre in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, which seeks to promote inter-faith dialogue towards a culture of peace at local, national and international levels. Born and raised in Malaysia, he completed his B.Sc(Hons) majoring in Chemistry and a Dip. Ed. from LaTrobe Unievrsity in Melbournme, Australia as a Colombo Plan scholar.  After serving as a high school teacher in Science and Maths in Malaysia, he undertook graduate studies in Education at the University of Alberta (M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Ph.D. in sociology of education/international education) where his initial interest in development education converged with social action in the anti-apartheid movement.  At the University of New England in Armidale, NSW, Australia (1980-92), he established the first M.Ed and Ph.D. programs in peace and development education, and participated in the formation of the initial peace studies program in UNE.  He was also active in national initiatives in peace education curricula development  (e.g. through the Australian Geography teachers Assn; NSW social studies ) and the formation of APERA (Australian Peace Education & Research Association).   Swee-Hin also joined in international development solidarity work through Community Aid Abroad and other NGO movements. 

In 1986, following his first visit to the Philippines, he joined with Filipino educators to establish the first graduate program in Peace Education and the Peace Education Centre at Notre Dame University in Cotabato City in central Mindanao, site of  the long-standing conflicts between Moro liberation movements and the Government, as well as other manifestations of  armed and nonviolent struggles seeking to overcome structural violence and other facets of marginalization. Over 1986 -2000, he continued to be involved in helping to expand peace education in universities, colleges and schools throughout Mindanao and other parts of the Philippines as well in nonformal programs of educating for a culture of peace for members of grasspoort communities, civil society organizations, faith communities, civil servants and military personnel. In 1994, Swee-Hin served as conference rapporteur and as a resource speaker in the International Forum on a Culture of Peace hosted by UNESCO and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Philippines, and also participated as resource person in other UNESCO Culture of Peace conferences in Mozambique and Portugal.  

Over 1992-2002, he taught at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, and developed peace education in undergraduate and graduate levels under the title of "Global Education", as well as integrating it in courses and research programs in international, multicultural, intercultural , human rights , active non-violence and environmental education.  He has participated in numerous peace education workshops, conferences and curriculum development projects in other North and South contexts including South Africa, Japan, USA, Uganda, South Korea , Jamaica, Thailand, UK , Uzbekistan, China and India.  A Senior fellow of the U.N. University for Peace in Costa Rica. he collaborated with Virginia Cawagas in developing as well in teaching the core courses in the Peace Education M.A. program that commenced in 2004.  In 2000, Swee-Hin was awarded the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education for his efforts "to promote the ideals of peace and nonviolence and his active involvement in the cause of peace through the education of all the different socvial partners".

Since 2003, he has been inaugural professor and Director of the Multi-Faith Centre at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia.  In this role, he implemented a wide range of programs and activities to promote understanding, respect and solidarity among diverse faith and multicultural communities through interfaith dialogues, multifaith prayer services, workshops, symposia, conference, teacher's and other inservice formation, curriculum development and networking. Many annual MFC activities are linked to various UN International days including peace, environment, and human rights, as well as national commemorations in support of refugees and reconciliation with indigenous peoples.  Swee-Hin has participated in a number of global or regional interfaith gatherings including the Parlaiment of the World's Religions (2004, Barcelona), Religions for Peace (2006, Kyoto) and the Asian Conference on Religions for Peace (2008, Manila).  He has also been invited to join the Australian multi-faith delegation to the last two Asia-Pacific Interfaith meetings co-founded by Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand and the Philippines ( Waitangi, NZ, 2007; Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 2008).  

He has also been active in various global networks or organizations for peace education and peacebuilding such as UNESCO, the International Institute on Peace Education, the World Council for Curriculum & Instruction, the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (for which he co-wrote the UNESCO sponsored Feasibilioty report lerading to APCEIU's establishment in 2000, and serving as an Advisory Committee member and wteachers' workshop resource person and curriculum developer), Globalization for the Common Good, the Parliament of the World’s Religions, Religions for Peace and IPRA. He is currently Convenor of the Peace Education Commission of IPRA (International Peace Research Association) (2006-2010) and a member of the editorial Board of the Journal of Peace Education.  Swee-Hin has published articles or chapters in journals, teachers magazines and the Encyclopedia of Peace, and co-edited /co-authored with Virginia Cawagas two curriclum-oriented books focusing on peace education in the Philippines, and a series of  elementary-level (G 1-6) textbooks for the Civics and Culture (social studies) subject area in the Philippines.