http://www.upeace.org Headquartered in Costa Rica, the United Nations-mandated University for Peace was established in December 1980 as a Treaty Organization by the UN General Assembly. As determined in the Charter of the University, the mission of the University for Peace is: “to provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace with the aim of promoting among all human beings the spirit of understanding, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, to stimulate cooperation among peoples and to help lessen obstacles and threats to world peace and progress, in keeping with the noble aspirations proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations.” http://www.upeace.org/podcast/mp3/amr_p1.mp3 The lecture on Universities Partnering for Peace: Unlimited Opportunities, focused on revealing the unique qualities of universities which prepare them to play a key role in peacemaking and peacebuilding, Such qualities include the academic sanctuary; respect to universities in communities; safe space for dialogue; multicultural haven for students and staff; and, access to information in the age of technology. The lecture also addressed the role UPEACE plays worldwide to spread the knowledge and skills of peacemaking and peacebuilding via partnerships and various types of training and curriculum development workshops. http://www.upeace.org/podcast/mp3/amr_p2.mp3 The lecture on Universities Partnering for Peace: Unlimited Opportunities, focused on revealing the unique qualities of universities which prepare them to play a key role in peacemaking and peacebuilding, Such qualities include the academic sanctuary; respect to universities in communities; safe space for dialogue; multicultural haven for students and staff; and, access to information in the age of technology. The lecture also addressed the role UPEACE plays worldwide to spread the knowledge and skills of peacemaking and peacebuilding via partnerships and various types of training and curriculum development workshops. http://www.upeace.org/podcast/mp3/language_and_conflict_partI.mp3 Conflict and language, was the title of the first lecture given by Georges Tsaï as part of the course Contemporary Issues on International Peace. G. Tsaï´s experience in multicultural environments was the catalyst that helped initiate a reflection over the uses of language and the role that language plays in conflicts. He drew from his personal and professional life to render intelligible the concept of linguistic diversity as an important dimension of conflict in most plural societies. A language criterion —explained Tsaï— has been used as an element of segregation, or even as a defining factor that lead to ethnic genocide. The issue of language has strong political underpinnings because it plays an important role in shaping identity. http://www.upeace.org/podcast/mp3/language_and_conflict_partII.mp3 Conflict and language, was the title of the first lecture given by Georges Tsaï as part of the course Contemporary Issues on International Peace. G. Tsaï´s experience in multicultural environments was the catalyst that helped initiate a reflection over the uses of language and the role that language plays in conflicts. He drew from his personal and professional life to render intelligible the concept of linguistic diversity as an important dimension of conflict in most plural societies. A language criterion —explained Tsaï— has been used as an element of segregation, or even as a defining factor that lead to ethnic genocide. The issue of language has strong political underpinnings because it plays an important role in shaping identity. http://www.upeace.org/podcast/mp3/Kaplan.mp3 Dr. Gerry Caplan is a leading Canadian authority on genocide and genocide prevention. An internationally recognized expert on the Rwanda genocide, and determined that Never Again becomes a reality rather than s slogan, Gerry speaks around the world on why genocides happen and why those with the capacity to prevent them fail to do so. Gerald Caplan, who has a Ph.D. in African history from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, has been involved in African issues for many years. He is a senior consultant for the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa and has just completed a report for the Africa Union and UNICEF on The State of Africa's Children. Also Dr. Caplan is a Visiting Professor at University for Peace. http://www.upeace.org/about/Newsflash/2008/enero/250108/index.html THe Newsfash is a monthly publication which describes the latest events in UPEACE http://www.upeace.org/podcast/mp3/Kaplan.mp3 Dr. Gerry Caplan is a leading Canadian authority on genocide and genocide prevention. An internationally recognized expert on the Rwanda genocide, and determined that Never Again becomes a reality rather than s slogan, Gerry speaks around the world on why genocides happen and why those with the capacity to prevent them fail to do so. Gerald Caplan, who has a Ph.D. in African history from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, has been involved in African issues for many years. He is a senior consultant for the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa and has just completed a report for the Africa Union and UNICEF on The State of Africa's Children. Also Dr. Caplan is a Visiting Professor at University for Peace. http://www.upeace.org/podcast/mp3/OSCAR_TORRES.mp3 Conversation with the screenwriter Oscar Torres and UPEACE students on the Film and Conflict Course.. His film "Innocent Voices" tells the story of El Salvador's civil war in the 1980s through the eyes of an 11-year-old boy. Co-writer Oscar Torres escaped to the United States from his native land and lived through the events dramatized onscreen. Here, Torres talks about his experiences, motivations, the healing process and expectations around his work. http://www.upeace.org/podcast/mp3/entrepeneurship.mp3 The worlds of “working for the betterment of society” and “generating revenues” are often seen as incompatible. Mohit Mukherjee presents a new perspective on this problem. Mohit Mukherjee is the Director of the UPEACE Centre for Executive and Professional Education as well as a faculty member at UPEACE. Prior to this position, he served for four years as Education Programme Manager of the Earth Charter Initiative, an international nonprofit organization. He also spent three years in the private sector, at A.T. Kearney, a top-tier international management consulting firm based in USA, and three years as an educator in Ecuador. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University, and did his Master’s at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, also taking two courses at Harvard Business School on how to start up, manage, and grow social enterprises. Mohit is an avid tennis player, though is struggling to find the "win-win" scenario on the court. http://www.upeace.org/podcast/mp3/UPEACE_Student_life.mp3 A group of UPEACE students talks about their experiences from their arrival to their last days at the University; their relationship with their fellow students and teachers, life at Costa Rica and the cultural and academic experience of being in this particular Institution. Listen from firsthand the diversity, multiculturalism and the learning process that created a permanent bond with the UPEACE network. With Mary Lind (USA), Ross Ryan (Canada), Yara Saab (Lebannon), Sandra Tumwesigye (Uganda). Recorded on June 2007 + http://www.upeace.org/news/index.cfm?id_activity=527 Training seminar in international negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution http://www.upeace.org/news/index.cfm?id_activity=520 The world is changing at an extremely rapid pace, affecting the essence of how we learn, interact, and work. As educators, can we create learning experiences to equip our students for a future that is constantly changing? http://www.upeace.org/news/index.cfm?id_activity=529 The Africa Peace and Conflict Journal seeks to provide a vehicle for African scholars, and those focusing on Africa, to publish their views on issues of peace and conflict affecting the continent. The APCJ deals with peace and conflict issues from a multi-disciplinary, and distinctly African perspective. Researchers from across disciplines are invited to submit papers, book reviews and briefings for publication. The APCJ will endeavour to publish reviews reflecting a diversity of topics and a diversity of approaches. http://www.upeace.org/news/index.cfm?id_activity=525 Theme: Endogenous Knowledge Systems in Africa The Africa Peace and Conflict Journal seeks to provide a vehicle for African scholars, and those focusing on Africa, to publish their views on issues of peace and conflict affecting the continent. http://www.upeace.org/news/index.cfm?id_activity=524 Internships, The University for Peace, Africa Programme The University for Peace, Africa Programme offers a limited number of UNPAID INTERNSHIP POSITIONS in its Addis Ababa office. These positions are designed for graduate students (post graduate) in the peace and conflict studies field, humanities and social sciences. http://www.upeace.org/news/index.cfm?id_activity=523 UPEACE and UPSAM has initiated its plans to conduct the Master Curriculum Development Workshops http://www.upeace.org/news/index.cfm?id_activity=522 List of the Memoranda of Agreements signed http://www.upeace.org/news/index.cfm?id_activity=526 The Executive Committee of the Council of the University held its Fifteenth Session on 4 February 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland. http://www.upeace.org/news/index.cfm?id_activity=521 The new NRSD Programme students arrive http://www.upeace.org/news/index.cfm?id_activity=514 The year 2007 has been a key year of evolutionary change for UPEACE.