We wish to invite you to join a select group of 45 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, one of the founders of the academic discipline of peace research and frequent mediator in international conflicts.
Studying with the founder of a new academic discipline is a rare opportunity, like studying economics with Adam Smith. 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.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND: In addition to attending courses, students get to know each other closely and conclude friendships that last a lifetime. In the fall of 2005, we had 43 students from 29 countries from four continents. 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. Students who have successfully completed our program 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 in international organizations, NGOs, business, universities, or work with their governments.
TOPICS INCLUDE: Introduction to Peace Studies, Cross-Cultural Communication, Peaceful Conflict Transformation, Human Rights, International Law, Governance, Participation, the Global Economy, Peacebuilding and Development, Safeguarding a Livable Environment, Demilitarization, Nonviolence, Security, United Nations Reform, Mediation, Peace Education, Peace and the Media, Reconciliation after Violence, Peace and Deep Culture. For a more detailed explanation of the program, a course calendar and a catalogue with course descriptions, see www.epu.ac.at
FACULTY MEMBERS INCLUDE: Rasheed AKINYEMI, Vinya ARIYARATNE, Bernd BAUMGARTL, Rais Neza BONEZA, Birgit BROCK-UTNE, Hossain DANESH, Fred DUBEE, Tilman EVERS, Laszlo W. FARKAS, Dietrich FISCHER, George FRERKS, Johan GALTUNG, Wilfried GRAF, Gal HARMAT, Diane HENDRICK, Kai Frithjof BRAND-JACOBSEN, Jorgen JOHANSEN, Wilhelm KEMPF, Gudrun KRAMER, Liv LARSSON, Sabina LAUTENSACH, Steve MICHAEL, Jan OBERG, Zarko PUHOVSKI, Stella SABIITI, Lutz SCHRADER, Walter SUNTINGER, Zulfiya TURSUNOVA, Ronald TUSCHL, S. P. UDAYAKUMAR, Vidar VAMBHEIM, Andria WISLER
Fall term 2006: 24 September – 16 December (Apply by 15 March 2006) Spring term 2007: 4. February – 28. April (Apply by 15 Sept. 2006) Summer term 2007: 3. June – 25. August 2007 (Apply by 15 Jan. 2007)
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.
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 (bachelors or equivalent) is required, and preferably professional experience.
DEGREES: Those who successfully complete one trimester obtain an Advanced Certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies. Those who complete three trimesters (Fall, Spring and Summer) and write a thesis obtain a Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies, approved by the Austrian Ministry of Education. Students can begin in any of the three trimesters.
COSTS: Euro 2500 tuition + Euro 1400 room rent per trimester, plus Euro 700 examination fee for the Master of Arts program. Those who pay for three trimesters in advance obtain a reduction from 12’400 to 11’500 Euro. A small number of full scholarships are available for participants from focal countries of Austria’s development cooperation (one trimester only), but they are highly competitive. Some partial scholarships (30% reduction in tuition) are also available for participants from Third World countries.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY: see www.epu.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 Administrative Assistant <epu@epu.ac.at>, Tel +43-3355-2498-515 (mornings). We will be happy to answer your questions and help you.
With best regards, Dietrich Fischer
Academic Director, EPU
TFF Associate
PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH ANYONE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED! THANK YOU.
