INVITATION TO STUDY PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
at the European University Center for Peace Studies (EPU),
Stadtschlaining, Austria
Website www.aspr.ac.at, Email epu@epu.ac.at, Tel +43-3355-2498-515.
We wish to invite you to join a select group of 40 students from
around the world in an intensive course in peace and conflict
studies at the European University Center for Peace Studies (EPU)
in Stadtschlaining, Austria. All the courses are taught in
English, by leading specialists in their field from around the
world, including Johan Galtung, founder of the field of peace
research. Studying with the founder of a new academic discipline
is a rare opportunity, like studying medicine with Hippocrates,
economics with Adam Smith, or relativity theory with Albert
Einstein. EPU offers students a well-rounded program covering
Peace with Security, Development, Freedom, Nature and Culture.
The Program, established in 1991 by Dr. Gerald Mader, Founder and
President of the Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict
Resolution, received the 1995 UNESCO Prize for Peace Education.
In addition to attending courses, students get to know each other
closely and conclude friendships that last a lifetime. In the fall
of 2004, we had 40 students from 27 countries. Many former students
said that studying at EPU was the best time of their life. Peace
Studies are a highly interdisciplinary and growing academic field.
Our students who have successfully completed their studies are well
grounded in both theory and practice to face the challenges of
global conflict transformation. We are happy and proud that many
of our former students now have thriving careers with international
organizations, NGOs or work with their respective home governments.
TOPICS INCLUDE: Introduction to Peace Studies, Cross-Cultural
Communication, Peaceful Conflict Transformation, Human Rights,
Governance, Participation, the Global Economy, Peacebuilding and
Development, Demilitarization, Nonviolence, Security, United
Nations Reform, Mediation, Peace Education, Peace and the Media,
Reconciliation after Violence, Peace and Deep Culture.
Fall term 2005: 2 October - 21 December (Apply by 15 March 2005)
LOCATION: Stadtschlaining, a beautiful, small and quiet medieval
town with a 700 year old castle hosting a peace museum, in the
foothills of the Alps, between Vienna and Graz, surrounded by
hiking trails, with a hot spring nearby. Classrooms and 44 single
rooms with private bath are located in a new building.
PEACE LIBRARY: next to the castle is a famous peace library with
25,000 books and some films, most of them in English.
COSTS: Euro 2500 tuition + Euro 1400 room rent per semester, plus
Euro 700 examination fee for the Master of Arts program.
WHO SHOULD APPLY: Students from any discipline interested in peace
and conflict resolution, young diplomats, government officials, NGO
members, teachers, journalists, lawyers, social workers,
psychologists, officers, and anyone interested in solving conflicts
by peaceful means. A first university degree is required, and
preferably some professional experience.
DEGREES: Those who successfully complete one semester obtain an
Advanced Certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies. Those who
complete two semesters (Fall/Spring or Spring/Fall) and write a
thesis obtain a Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies,
approved by the Austrian Ministry of Education.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY: see www.aspr.ac.at, and click on
"European University Center for Peace Studies", second on the left.
If you have further questions, please contact Anita Flasch, EPU
Secretary <epu@epu.ac.at>, Tel +43-3355-2498-515 (mornings). We
will be happy to answer your questions, or help you apply.
With best regards, Dietrich Fischer
APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR THE FALL TERM 2005 IS March 15, 2005!
We need to RECEIVE BY MARCH 15 a completed application form
(available at www.aspr.ac.at), a curriculum vitae, and an essay of
about 2-300 words explaining how you intend to apply what you
learned. Please send it by email (no scanned documents, please!),
fax or airmail. Recommendation letters, COPIES of transcripts and
diplomas and proof of English proficiency can follow by airmail.
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The Peace Center Burg Schlaining also offers two-week courses by
EPU's sister organization, the INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN PEACE-KEEPING
AND PEACE-BUILDING TRAINING PROGRAM (IPT). In the 1992 "Agenda for
Peace", then UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali encouraged
the establishment of regional training centers for civilian
peace-keeping and peace-building activities. Austria's government
responded positively and supported the development of a training
program for the preparation of civilian personnel. Established in
1993, IPT became the first program world-wide of this kind.
CORE COURSES (Weeks 1 and 2) are offered three times a year,
usually in February, June and September. They provide the
participants with the basics of civilian involvement in crisis
regions and include the following main elements: Communication and
intercultural understanding; Human Rights Protection; Conflict
Transformation and Mediation; Case Studies on Particular Conflicts;
Stress Management and Working with Trauma; Gender Aspects in
Peace-building; Co-operation with the Military; Mine awareness
training; Radio communication and map reading; four wheel drive.
SPECIALIZATION COURSES (Weeks 3 and 4) provide in-depth training in
one of the major functions of peace-builders:
- Conflict Transformation
- Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration
- Election Observation and Assistance
- Empowerment for Political Participation
- Human Rights Protection and Promotion
- Humanitarian Assistance
- Information Dissemination
- Project Management in Field Operations
Attendance of the core course is a precondition for participation
in the specialization course. They can be taken in succession.
The next Core Course will take place May 29 - June 11, 2005,
followed by a Specialization Course on Disarmament, Demobilization
and Reintegration (DDR), June 12 - June 25, 2005
DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATION Feb. 28, 2005
RESOURCE PERSONS: Faculty is drawn from an international group of
resource persons familiar with UN, OSCE, EU and NGO activities in
the realm of civilian peace-keeping and peace-building. The
resource persons have a long record of practical professional
experience, they have the ability to ground this experience
theoretically and have excellent teaching and training skills.
COST OF PARTICIPATION: Euro 500 per week (correct at the time of
writing and subject to change). This covers tuition, educational
materials, and full board accommodation in a single room with bath.
We encourage you to explore if your organization can send you.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY, see www.aspr.ac.at, write to
ipt@aspr.ac.at, or call Tel +43-3355-2498-506, Fax +43-3355-2662.