DESCRIPTION
The purpose of the Mission Preparation Training Programme for the OSCE (MPT),
is to provide active or future mission personnel with a wide range of civilian expertise in order to:
ß enable them to acquire the necessary skills to function effectively;
ß reduce any potential gaps that may exist among various mission members;
ß better equip them to understand specific situations on the ground and their responsibilities
according to the missions mandate and;
ß enhance the overall credibility, professionalism and the image of OSCE staff.
This programme also contributes towards developing the capability of the participating
States and the OSCE to set up Rapid Expert Assistance and Co-operation Teams (REACT)
which will be at the disposal of the OSCE to provide assistance, in accordance with OSCE norms in
conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation. The basic course provides
participants with general skills and knowledge required in OSCE Missions. Function specific skills
are addressed in a variety of specialisation courses such as on human rights and rule of law, democratisation
and political affairs or project management. Having attended both a basic and a specialisation course, the
prospective candidates then just need to get acquainted with the situation in the concrete mission they
will be seconded to in order to be fully prepared for a specific mission assignment.
The training aims at a trans-national, trans-professional and trans-organisational perspective.
Faculty is drawn from an international group of resource persons familiar with OSCE Mission
activities in the realm of conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation.
Approximately 25 participants will be accepted on a competitive basis from the OSCE participating States.
The language of instruction is English.
The content and the methodology of this training is based on the long standing experience of
the Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ASPR) with its
International Civilian Peace-keeping and Peace-building Training Programme (IPT).
The basic course is also based on the Training Standards for Preparation of OSCE Mission Staff,
which establishes guidelines for the design of fieldwork capacity building courses for future members
of Conflict Management and Post-Conflict Rehabilitation Operations in the OSCE area,
developed by the React Task Force in co-operation with the Office of
the Co-ordinator for Training and Capacity-Building.
The MPT Courses are independent of the OSCE, but representatives of OSCE
institutions and field missions actively participate on a voluntary basis in the training programme.
OSCE participation includes providing lecturers and trainers as well as seconding active or
future members of OSCE field missions as participants.
PROGRAMME
BASIC COURSE (Week 1 and 2)
The basic course takes place over a two-week period and explores the following principle elements:*
Introduction to the OSCE:
- Overview: What is the OSCE
- OSCE institutions
- OSCE instruments and activities
- OSCE field activities
Introduction to field work issues in war-torn societies:
- Introduction to human rights
- Democratisation processes
- Gender issues in crisis situations
- Trauma work
Cross-cultural communication:
- International working environment
- Cultural awareness
Field work techniques:
- Monitoring
- Communicating via interpreters
- Conflict management techniques
- Information flow and co-ordination
- Report writing techniques
Safety and security:
- Personal safety
- Co-operation and communication with the military
- Co-operation and communication with the civilian police
- Mine awareness
- Map reading
- Four-wheel driving
- Radio communication
Stress management and mission readiness
Recruitment procedures and employment conditions of OSCE
* Subject to changes
SPECIALIZATION COURSES (Week 3 and 4)
Two-weeks function-specific specialisation courses provide in-depth training in one of the following fields:
&Mac183; Human Rights and Rule of Law (e.g. definition and concepts of human rights, fact finding,
monitoring, human rights promotion and capacity building, enhancement of the administration of justice,
technical assistance)
&Mac183; Democratisation and Political Affairs (e.g. democratic institution building,
strengthening of civil society, relationship between state and civic initiatives, relations with state authorities, political party development, promotion of governance)
&Mac183; Electoral Assistance (e.g. electoral legislation, identification
and registration of voters, supervision and monitoring of balloting and counting,
political party development, media monitoring)
&Mac183; Press, Public Information and Media Development (e.g. relations with media,
free media, media monitoring, initiating, planning, organising and implementing
programmes to promote independent, pluralist and professional media)
&Mac183; Conflict Transformation (e.g. facilitation, mediation, negotiation, arbitration)
&Mac183; Project Management (e.g. design, promotion, organisation, implementation,
and evaluation of projects)
&Mac183; Post-conflict Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (e.g. rehabilitation, reconstruction,
repatriation, dealing with trauma and shock, rebuilding civil society)
Morning Sessions last from 9.00 to 10.30 and 11.00 to 12.30. Afternoon
Sessions last from 15.00 to 16.30 and 17.00 to 18.30. The very intensive
seminar schedule does not allow any other commitments of the participants.
METHODOLOGY OF THE PROGRAMME
The methodology that forms the design of the programme is based on information, interaction,
reflection, and integration. Information is given about the purpose and structure of the OSCE
as well as about conditions and functions of engagement in OSCE Missions. Special emphasis is
placed on information about OSCE bodies and their relation to other governmental and non-governmental actors.
The lecturers invited for the MPT Courses combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience.
Lecturers will primarily use the case study approach and will especially focus on recent developments
and activities of the OSCE and related governmental and non-governmental organisations.
Role-plays and interactive simulation exercises aim at improving the communication
and conflict management skills and thus promote intercultural understanding.
Basic information about OSCE organisations and organisational structures
will be made available or otherwise recommended in advance in order to help
participants prepare for the lectures.
VENUE
The Mission Preparation Training Programme for the OSCE (MPT) takes place at the Peace
Center Burg Schlaining which is located in the medieval town of Stadtschlaining in Southern
Burgenland (Austria), approximately 120 km south of Vienna. The Peace Center's facilities
include a restored historic castle with modern, well-equipped seminar and workshop facilities,
a library specialised on the field of peace and conflict studies, and high-quality accommodation.
COST OF PARTICIPATION
The cost of participation is EURO 2.000 per student per course.
The amount covers tuition, educational materials, and full board
accommodation in a single room with bath. For participants coming from non-member states
of the OECD, a limited number of scholarships will be awarded.
Applicants who would like to apply for such a support have to indicate this
in the respective section of the application form and give reasons
for that in their application essay. However, there is no possibility to receive
from the organisers financial support for travel expenses.
ADMINISTRATION
Arno TRUGER Director, ASPR
Gudrun KRAMER Programme Director
Monika GRUBECK Administrative Assistant
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Applicants for admission must meet the following requirements:
&Mac183; Masters degree or the equivalent in working experience;
&Mac183; Working knowledge of English;
&Mac183; Submission of the attached application form and the required accompanying materials
as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline indicated in the application form;
&Mac183; For a participation in a specialisation course the participation in a basic course is precondition.
Applicants for admission are selected on a competitive basis by an admissions committee.
Preference is given to applicants whose participation is supported by their
Foreign Ministry or OSCE institution. Applicants will be informed immediately
after the decision of the admissions committee.
Please mail the attached application form and all supplementary documents to:
Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ASPR)
A-7461 Stadtschlaining, Austria
Tel.: +43-3355-2498, Fax: +43-3355-2381
E-mail: mpt@aspr.ac.at
Website: http://www.aspr.ac.at
Please attach:
1. Curriculum vitae
2. Recent photograph
3. English health certificate indicating current state of health
4. Names, addresses and telephone numbers of two persons whom we may contact as
personal references
5. Application essay of 300 words. Please write in English your reasons for applying to
this programme, your main fields of interests in the programme, and how you hope to
benefit from the programme
6. Photocopy of driving license
PARTNERS
PEACE CENTER BURG SCHLAINING
The Summer Academy on OSCE will take place at the Peace Center Burg Schlaining
which is located in the medieval town of Stadtschlaining. The Peace Center Burg
Schlaining consists of the Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ASPR)
and the European University Center for Peace Studies (EPU). The ASPR was founded
in September 1982 as an independent, non-profit and non-partisan organisation.
It aims to contribute to the promotion of peace and peaceful conflict transformation and
to the dissemination of practical ideas for peace. The ASPR was the founder of the European University Center for Peace Studies (EPU) and established a European Peace Museum in Schlaining Castle in the year 2001.
In order to help to facilitate ASPR activities, the ASPR set up an unique
infrastructure including the Peace Library in a former synagogue, a
Conference Center in Schlaining Castle, the Hotel Burg Schlaining,
and Haus International, which is a student hostel. For these and other efforts the
ASPR was awarded UN Peace Messenger status in 1987 and in 1995 the ASPR and
the EPU were awarded the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education and, in 2002,
the UNESCO UniTwin Award.
Since 1992, the ASPR has become active in various peace-building training programmes
and projects. ASPR founded the International Civilian Peace-keeping and Peace-building
Training Program (IPT) - the first programme world-wide in which professionals
from a variety of cultural, organisational and professional background receive a
general and function-orientated training for various peace-building activities.
Since 1997 the ASPR organises the annual two-week Summer Academy on
OSCE in co-operation with the Berghof Research Center for
Constructive Conflict Management, Berlin, the Constitutional and Legal Policy Institute
in Budapest, and the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna. Together with these institutions
the ASPR founded the Mission Preparation Training Programme for the OSCE (MPT)
in October 2000. Both programmes are conducted under the patronage of the OSCE.
In 2001 the ASPR was contracted by the EU to co-ordinate and lead the
EC project on Training for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management.
The aim of the project is the development of civilian EU capabilities and
appropriate common standards and modules for training in the areas of rule
of law and civilian administration.
The ASPR has also developed peace-building training programmes and projects for
specific conflict regions. Since 1996 training programmes have been conducted for former
Yugoslavia and the South Caucasus and since 1997 for specific African regions. In 2001,
the ASPR became engaged in the ongoing peace-process in Sri Lanka. Several dialogue
workshops in Austria accompanied by follow-up activities in Sri Lanka were conducted
in order to support the official negotiation process.
DIPLOMATIC ACADEMY OF VIENNA
The Diplomatic Academy of Vienna (DA) is a post-graduate school of international
and European studies and prepares university graduates for a career in international organisations,
the diplomatic service or international business. Its interdisciplinary study programmes aim at providing
the academic expertise, personal skills and intercultural competence required for many
jobs in the international field.
The DA is the successor institution to the Oriental Academy founded in 1754 and thus looks back on
a long tradition of excellence. In 1964 it was re-established under its present name.
The DA is open to post-graduate students of many different study disciplines from all around the world.
In addition to its Diploma and Masters programmes the DA organises in-service training
seminars for the public service, international organisations or the private sector.
In addition, the DA has also established itself as a conference centre that provides
a forum for public discussions on international relations issues.
Please, mail your application and all supplementary documentation to:
AUSTRIAN STUDY CENTER FOR
PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION (ASPR)
A-7461 Stadtschlaining / Burg, Austria
Tel.: +43-3355-2498, Fax: +43-3355-2381, E-mail: mpt@aspr.ac.at
Website: http://www.aspr.ac.at
P l e a s e a t t a c h :
1. Curriculum vitae
2. Recent photograph
3. English health certificate indicating current state of health
4. Names, addresses and telephone numbers of two persons whom we may contact
as personal references
5. Application essay of 300 words. Please write in English your reasons for applying
to this programme, your main fields of interests in the programme, and how you hope
to benefit from the programme
6. Photocopy of driving license
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