Online Course in Transforming Civil Conflict

Online Course in Conflict Resolution 'Transforming Civil Conflict'

Dear Colleague,
The Network University (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) in co-operation with the
Centre for Conflict Resolution, Department of Peace Studies, Bradford
University, UK is organising in September 9 to 4 October (and November 4-29)
its popular four-week online certificate course in Conflict Resolution,
Conflict Prevention and Conflict Analysis for the 14th and 15th time. The
course is designed for professionals that work in conflict areas and
students with a special interest in the topic. For more information contact
Lambrecht Wessels [email protected] or our website: www.netuni.nl/demos/tcc/

With best regards,

Lambrecht Wessels

[longer explanation]

Online Course 'Transforming Civil Conflict'

Dear Colleague,

The Network University in co-operation with the Centre for Conflict
Resolution, Department of Peace Studies, Bradford University is organising
in September 9 to 4 October and November (4-29) its succesful award winning
four-week online certificate course in Conflict Resolution for the
fourteenth and fifteenth time. The course is designed for professionals that
work in conflict areas and students with a special interest in the topic.
For more information contact Lambrecht Wessels [email protected] or website:
www.netuni.nl/demos/tcc/ (recently updated).
For more information please read on below.

Aim
  The aim of the program is to help prepare participants for work in
conflict areas or to make their work more effective: by giving them more
insight into the processes in conflicts and the roles of different
organisations. A sense of humility and the asking of relevant questions is
central here rather than finding the right solution and answers.

Content

During the course the participants are familiarised with contemporary
theories of conflict and conflict resolution, acquainted with a range of
relevant information on conflict on the Internet and introduced to practical
issues and debates within the field. They are brought together in a
'learning community' with people with a professional interest in conflict.
The subjects for each of the course weeks are: Introduction to Conflict
Resolution, Conflict Analysis and Conflict Prevention. The students
participate through online debates, assignments and exercises and are
coached online.

Target Group

The target group for this course is professionals that work in conflict
areas and students with a special interest in the topic. One can think of
(inter)national relief agency workers, development professionals, conflict
resolution trainers, military personnel, business people, journalists,
students, academics and others working for governmental or (local)
non-governmental organisations (NGO's) in countries and territories that are
the scene violent conflict and civil strife.


Intensive Tailored Supervision

Although the course is designed for a minimum of 10 hours of total study
time a week, the supervision is daily. You can send questions, request for
information to the coaches. They are present at the online 'call center' to
answer them 14 hours a day. The course is tailor made: participants receive
personal feedback. They can choose the conflict(s) they would like to study.
In addition they can suggest and initiate online debate topics. These often
link into current affairs and student's special interests. The website is
open 24 hours a day, updated and added to as needed. The site is permanently
accessible to the students.

Collaborative learning

The participant will participate in a collaborative learning experience in
an online 'learning community' of professionals. Every week there will be
different assignments. These are mostly NOT of the type: 'read some
articles, write a paper and send it in before Friday.' The assignments aim
to stimulate discussion and cooperation between the participants. In
addition to individual and group assignments there will be online
discussions and exercises.

Overview

This is the overview of the course:

1: Introduction to Conflict Resolution

During this first week we will discuss some of the most used concepts in
Conflict Resolution. We will discuss different phases of a conflict and the
peacebuilding efforts associated with it, the difference between Conflict
Management, Resolution and Transformation and conflict structures. The
assignments include exercises to search for specific information on Peace
and Conflict related websites and discussion between participants.


2: Conflict Prevention

During this week you will be familiarised with the debate on Conflict
Prevention, Early Warning and Early Action. Many organisations and
governments are interested in questions of: How can conflicts be prevented?
What are the tools available? To what parties and organisations? This week
aims to help participants identify conflict prevention opportunities in
conflicts.

3: Conflict Mapping (conflict analysis)

The last two weeks we will provide the participants with the knowledge to
make a 'conflict map'. Theory and exercises are aimed to gather relevant
information on a particular 'target conflict' of your choosing, in a
structured way. This will help you get an overview of the particular
conflict and the role your organisation is playing in it. You are taught
where to find and keep track of interesting information for your conflict.
Included is also theory on 'multi-track diplomacy'.
  This week makes heavy use of internet information resources. You will be
pointed towards many websites for different types of information.

A demo-site with some information is available online at
www.netuni.nl/demos/tcc (regularly updated).

Do you lack internet skills?

An additional 'do it yourself' free course in Internet Skills is provided
for those who are not familiar with the many uses of Internet. It can be
taken at any time, but we recommende to do it before the course. Find it
through the Network University Website (http://www.netuni.nl/learning/).
Participants will be provided with a password free of charge.

For more information and specific details on the Network University and the
Program visit our website at www.netuni.nl/demos/tcc or www.netuni.nl


TimeFrame: How much time, 'A-synchrone'-teaching.

The September course will start on Monday 9 september and finish on Friday 4
october 2002. There always is a month of extra time for debates as well
(optional). The course is designed for people who want to study, learn and
work at the same time. The amount of time needed to complete the assignments
and participate will depend on your experience with Internet, level of
participation (in discussion groups) and familiarity with the subject. As
most of our participants are working, we strive to make it possible to
complete every week's assignments with 10 hours of reading, debating and
studying. The course is taught 'a-synchrone': which means you do not have to
be present at certain hours. You can spread your work over the week. So if
the weekends and evenings are better for you then you can use those to work
on the course. We will be present at the 'call center' about 14 hours a day,
but you can make your assignmentsubmissions, contributions to discussions
and ask your questions to coaches 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The website
will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as well. Sometimes we allow
participants (by exception) to spread their course participation over the
period of two separate courses. This way they can still participate even if
they have to leave for work, where they do not have Internet-access, or have
unexpected emergencies.

Course Coaches

Supervisors (usually two) of the course are:
Course manager Lambrecht Wessels, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, MA Political
Science (University of Amsterdam '97), BA Conflict Research (Uppsala
University, Sweden, '96),
Course coaches:
Jeannie Grussendorf, based in Austin, Texas, USA, Ph.D. Conflict Resolution,
Centre for Conflict Resolution, Department of Peace Studies, Bradford
University, UK
Laina K. Reynolds from the same centre based in Bradford UK, Ph.D candidate
Claske Dijkema,  MA Conflict Resolution Berkeley, USA.
Other supervisors and specialists provide their services as needed or
requested, depending on the course. Technical assistance is provided by TNU.

Certificate, New Short Courses in 2001 onwards

Participants will be provided with a certificate of completion/attendance
from both the (European) Network University and the Centre for Conflict
Resolution, Department of Peace Studies, Bradford University, after the
course is finished. The course will be offered again several times in 2002.
In the future a special 10-14 day courses will be available and courses on
new topics will be added, including 'Post Conflict Development', 'Gender and
Conflict', 'Civic Scenario training', and specific conflict areas.

Network

For the further production of the program we are currently co-operating with
the following institutions: The International Relations and Security Network
[www.isn.ethz.ch]., Switzerland, The Centre for Conflict Resolution
Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford UK
[www.brad.ac.uk/acad/confres/], The Clingendael Institute
[www.clingendael.nl], The Netherlands and The European Platform on Conflict
Prevention www.conflict-prevention.net, the Netherlands and the
Mediterranean Women's Study Centre KEGME,[www.kegme.org.gr/] Greece. New
partnerships beyond Europe for new courses are being set up.

Awards for the Transforming Civil Conflict Programme

December 1999 the Transforming Civil Conflict program won the International
Relations and Security Network (www.isn.ethz.ch) EMPIRE GRANT
[www.isn.ethz.ch/edutrain/index.cfm?service=empire] for the development of
outstanding high quality learning programs in the field of international
relations and security policy.  See also:
www.isn.ethz.ch/edutrain/index.cfm?service=empire&parent=1999&menu=3
In December of 2000 the Transforming Civil Conflict program won the Empire
Grant for the development of a follow up program on Post Conflict
Development, to be added to the current course.

Registration and Information

Requests for information can be sent through email to Lambrecht Wessels at
[email protected]
Feel free to forward this information people you think might be interested.
   Registration is possible through www.netuni.nl/courses/ or the homepage
of the Network University www.netuni.nl Registration implies an intent to
participate and transfer the fee. If you are not sure about this contact us
first.

Reports
A report of our experiences have been published by Bradford University,
Centre For Conflict Resolution, Department of Peace Studies, Bradford BD7
1DP, Working Paper 8, Developing an Online Learning Pedagogy for Conflict
Resolution Training,[www.brad.ac.uk/acad/confres/working.html] Laina K.
Reynolds & Lambrecht Wessels, May 2001, available for only £2.50. An article
has been published on the course in the March 2000 newsletter of the Relief
and Rehabilitation Network. The web-version is available now  at:
www.odihpn.org/editme/publications.asp (p. 43).

Costs:

The regular fee for the course is ? 900, $ 750. Students pay a special
reduced price of  ?530, $495, participant from the 'South' ? 410 ($ 395).
Additional reductions are available: A limited amount of (partial)
scholarships is available for shoestring- budget NGO's, groups and
individuals in special circumstances. In that case a CV and/or short letter
of intent should be sent to [email protected]. The fees are due before the
start of the courses.


With kind regards,

Lambrecht Wessels

The (European) Network University, [www.netuni.n/]
Email: [email protected]
Transforming Civil Conflict
PO Box 94603
1090 GP Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel.: 020-561 8167
Fax.: 020-561 8164

and

Laina Reynolds
Centre for Conflict Resolution
Department of Peace Studies
University of Bradford






Lambrecht Wessels MA
Course Director/Trainer Conflict Studies

The European Network University:
PO Box 94603
1090 GP Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel.: 020-561 8167
Fax.: 020-561 8164
email: [email protected]

TCC course
http://www.netuni.nl/courses/
Transforming Civil Conflict demosite:
http://www.netuni.nl/demos/tcc
The Network University
http://www.netuni.nl

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