Anton Abdul Fatah
Ph.D. Candidate in Social Science (Final Completion Stage)
Centre for Research on Peace and Development (CRPD)
at KU Leuven University, Belgium
Anton Abdul Fatah was raised in Garut, a small town in West Java Province, Indonesia. Raised by a family of educators and farmers, he developed a strong passion for learning and a diligent work ethic. Anton’s educational journey has taken him across three continents. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Indonesia, pursued a master’s degree at the University of Kentucky in the United States, and Ph.D. degree at KU Leuven in Belgium. Alongside his academic pursuits, Anton has actively sought out professional development opportunities, participating in short courses and training programs in various countries. He has been the recipient of prestigious scholarships, including the Fulbright program in the United States, the VLIR-UOS program in Belgium, and the STUNED program in the Netherlands, which have enabled him to advance his studies and professional growth.
For his doctoral research, titled “Navigating the Past and Present: an Exploration of Teachers’ Views on the Past Conflict, Current Peace Development, and Teaching Peace Education in Ambon, Indonesia,” Anton aims to examine the attitudes and perceptions of secondary school teachers in Ambon, Indonesia, concerning past conflicts, the present state of peace development in the region, and their perspectives on teaching peace education. This study is part of the research project titled “Education, Democracy and the Legacy of Conflict: Prospects and Challenges of History and Civic Education in Indonesia,” supported by the Belgian Development Cooperation through VLIR-UOS, under the guidance of Prof. Arnim Langer, Head of the Centre for Research on Peace and Development.
Anton has received numerous accolades in recognition of his work, including the Outstanding Capstone Paper Award 2016 from the University of Kentucky, USA; First Place in the Global Health Case Competition 2016 at the University of Kentucky, USA; First Place in the 2015 Policy Challenge USA, Southern USA; World Champion in the “What is Out There? Competition” by SCIEF, Madrid; First Place in the Indonesia Young Muslim Creation Award; and First Place in the E-IDEA Asia Pacific Competition by the British Council & LRQA.