System-Wide Activities
New Journal for the Africa Programme
The Africa Programme of the University for Peace is launching during this year a new academic journal dealing with conflict and peace issues from a multi-disciplinary, and distinctly African perspective. The African Conflict and Peace Review will provide a vehicle for African scholars, and those focussing on Africa, to publish their views on issues of conflict and peace affecting the continent.
Researchers from any discipline such as political science, media studies, law, sociology, etc are invited to submit articles for publication. The Review will endeavour to publish articles reflecting a diversity of topics and a diversity of approaches. The ideal article should be between 5 000 and 7 500 words and, at least during the initial years, there will be a preference for introductory and general articles, although some outstanding articles dealing with issues in more depth will also be considered. It is hoped that a significant number of articles published in the Review will be of such a nature that they can be prescribed in undergraduate as well as postgraduate courses in African universities.
The aim of the Review is to make Africa's voice on the pivotal issue of peace and conflict on the continent heard, and to help ensure that the scholarly community in Africa engage with one another on issues relating to continental peace and security.
The Review will appear once a year in 2006, and twice a year thereafter. Articles can be submitted on a continuous basis, and will be peer reviewed. The focus will be on quality, originality and relevance, and engagement with the scholarly literature on the topic addressed. All sources should be recognised and references provided in footnotes. Book reviews are also welcome.
Articles must conform to the Guide for Contributors and may be submitted to karen.stefiszyn@up.ac.za.
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International conference to take place at African Union headquarters
“Strategies for Peace with Development in Africa: The Role of Education, Research and Training”. June 12 – 14, 2006, African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The UN-mandated University for Peace (UPEACE) and the African Union (AU) have the pleasure to announce an international conference on, “Strategies for Peace with Development in Africa: The Role of Education, Research and Training”.
The African Union is an international organization with a vision to “build an integrated Africa, a prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena”. It has identified peace as a key element of endeavor as stipulated in its fifth mission, to “play a leadership role for the promotion of Peace, Human security and Good governance on the Continent”.
It is in the light of their core mission of entrenching peace in Africa as a sine qua non for sustainable development that the African Union Commission and the University for Peace are convening this conference as a contribution towards entrenching a culture of peace in Africa.
For more information about the conference please contact jbbutera@upeace.org or tabebe@upeace.org
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Rector Julia Marton-Lefèvre attends Commencement 2006 at American University
On 14 May 2006, Rector Julia Marton-Lefèvre went to American University in Washington D.C to attend the Commencement 2006, where 18 students graduated from the Dual MA in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Programme. Students also received a diploma in International Affairs from American University.
Here are some nice moments students shared together at the Commencement!
Student life
Art Journal/ Calendar for sale
By Laurel Barton
Peace Education Student
The story behind the art journal came from the initiative of students at UPEACE in 2004-2005. With the support of headquarter’s staff member Fayen d’Evie, Jamie Raddatz, Peace Education Student in 2004, had the desire to balance the academic life of UPEACE with a creative outlet. Thus, the art journal was born. This year the journal was taken on by me, supported by the amazing graphic design skills of Adriana Molina, and the collaboration of contributing artists, to create a calendar which will remind us of our days at UPEACE.
This year’s journal includes not only artistic work, but also a calendar from May 2006-Dec. 2007. The calendar includes the birthdays of current students to remind them to keep in touch.
In this journal/calendar you will find poetry from our beloved professors, mixed media that represent our cultural connections to nature from the Gender Program, beautiful photos of Central America by Craig Brannagan, and many more unique contributions.
We hope that this journal/calendar will remind us to stay connected to each other, our artistic passions and the beauty and inspiration of our world. As we struggle for justice and peace - among peoples and for the planet - it is our hope that we never lose sight of the beauty that exists in the world and in our minds. Holding on to an ideal of a more just world is possible as long as we can imagine it. The importance of creativity, imagination and will are the ingredients that make a work of art, let your life’s work also be a work of art.
Your contribution will support the Art Journal fund for next year’s class to carry on this creative project, as well as charitable projects in support of the arts with local schools.
For more information please contact lbarton@student.upeace.org or amolina@upeace.org
Thank you so much for your support!
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An alumni story
Two years ago, Greg Barnett came to Costa Rica to study international law. Now he is back in Costa Rica to practice it. A law student at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, Greg must now apply the skills and experiences he gained both at UPEACE and at Georgetown as he begins a summer internship with Zurcher, Odio & Raven, a Costa Rican law firm specializing in international business transactions and foreign investment.
After leaving UPEACE, Greg worked in Minnesota, where he provided dispute resolution services to a nonprofit mediation center. However, his experience at UPEACE convinced him to pursue additional studies in law. Starting with public international law, and then moving to US domestic law, this summer will add one more valuable piece to Greg’s legal jigsaw puzzle: a taste of Costa Rican domestic law with a hint of private international law.
On a recent visit to UPEACE, Greg commented on how excited he was to see the expansion of structures, students, and programs of study. “It was great to return to see so many friendly faces.” He noted, however, that one thing was missing: “My fellow classmates who are off promoting the goals of UPEACE all across the globe.”
In the spotlight
Commencement 2006 is almost here!
Commencement 2006 is the greatest ceremony hosted by UPEACE, and it is really crucial for the culmination of the academic year. This year the ceremony will take place at the Auditorio Nacional on 30 June 2006.
Dr. Franklin Chang, distinguished Costa Rican scientist and astronaut, has accepted the Rector’s invitation to be the keynote speaker at the Commencement 2006.
Please find more information about his achievements on: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/chang.html