Swiss Centre for Peace Studies
Aim - Context
- Pedagogy - Start and Objective - Switzerland
Aim
The "World Peace Academy - Swiss Centre for Peace Studies" is an educational institution where people can study peace and conflict transformation at the university level. It is meant for people with a first university degree (e.g. bachelor's degree) or equivalent professional experience from all over the world willing to work for peace. The educational concept combines interdisciplinary peace research with the teaching of constructive conflict transformation, the practical experience of multicultural coexistence and the development of personal competencies for peace work. This latter aspect is a special characteristic of our program.Context
Today's complex problems confront individuals, governments and international organisations with enormous challenges. The solution to these problems demands increasingly a comprehension of the connection between conflicts and violence, methods of constructive conflict transformation and realistic visions for a peaceful coexistence of all cultures and nations.There is a growing need for qualified experts in the field of conflict research and peace work, who can take on innovative functions in private and public institutions. Today it is indispensable for individuals and institutions to support peace and promote the constructive transformation of conflicts.
Accepting the complex world problems as a challenge, the Swiss Centre for Peace Studies intends to be a place of research and development of creative and constructive solutions in order to promote peace as a fulfilling life for all humanity. The Academy aspires to contribute to a Culture of Peace.
Pedagogy
One of the ten modules is dedicated to the development of personal competencies for peace. It aims at integrating into the peace study program the sphere of inner-individual awareness and the application of psychology to personal transformation. This aforementioned Module 10 is an accompanying program throughout the nine months study period. It is designed to support the students in developing their personal peace-creating abilities through psychological education in theory, training and personal practice. The program addresses key competencies of peace-workers to prepare them for the challenges of this profession, including the abilities to: - handle conflicting interests and stressful situations constructively;
- understand human needs and show empathy;
- be credible and authentic as peace agent;
- envision creative solutions for conflicts or other social problems; and
- think in a systemic mode, work in cooperative ways and feel global responsibility.
The students are invited to study, inquire and transform their inner world and to expand their capacity for peaceful behaviour. This prepares them even more fully for effective peace-work and transformation of the external world.
We are convinced that by combining the study of the external and sometimes overlooked internal dimensions it is possible to reach a more holistic perspective of peace and its realisation, integrating body, mind, heart and soul in the art of peacemaking.
For this very reason we believe to be using an innovative approach in the realm of peace studies.
Start and Objective
The World Peace Academy is happy to announce its first academic program, "Master of Advanced Studies in Peace and Conflict Transformation", starting in March 2010.For the start-up phase we have opted for study facilities providing space for the lectures and administration as well as offering the students day room for group work, private study, computer use and recreational activities. We are pleased to offer the possibility to students coming from abroad or residing far away to live together in the Student House.
During the nine months study period, the students will learn and work together, building a multicultural community. Such a unique learning environment will enable the participants to train in everyday situations what needs to be realized on a global scale: mutual understanding, tolerance, cooperation and the willingness to learn from and with each other.
In order to strengthen this aspect of the learning experience, we plan to buy or build premises for a study center uniting study facilities and students' accommodation on a single campus in the longer term.
Switzerland
Switzerland has enjoyed nearly five centuries of peace, possessing an exemplary political culture of harmony in diversity and a long humanitarian tradition. Therefore, it seems to be specially adapted to make a contribution to world peace by offering peace studies with an innovative educational program and in an environment conducive to learning in all tranquillity.
Sitemap