MINELRES: Online course: 'Transforming Civil Conflict'

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Lambrecht Wessels <tcc@netuni.uva.nl>


Amsterdam August 2002

Dear Colleague,

The Network University in co-operation with the Centre for Conflict
Resolution, Department of Peace Studies, Bradford University is
organising from 9 September to 4 October (and 4-29 November) its
successful award winning four-week online certificate course in Conflict
Resolution. 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 tcc@netuni.uva.nl or website:
www.netuni.nl/demos/tcc/ (recently updated). Other courses will be given
in the Fall 2002 and throughout 2003.
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 directly 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 intensively online. The TCC course is an applied course
where much time is spent on analysis of a particular conflict chosen by
the participant and through assignments and supervision new insight is
gained into a particular conflict. This experience can then be used to
make analyses of other conflicts as well, thus providing the participant
with a set of tools.

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, also after finishing the course thus providing them with a
constant source of information and theoretical backup.

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 peace building 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 free of charge 'do it yourself' 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 recommend doing 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 July course will start on Monday 1 July and finish on Friday 26 July
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
assignment submissions, 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 sociology (University of Amsterdam) specialisation
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 2002 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 and 2003. In the future a special
10-14 day courses will be available and courses on new topics will be
added, including 'Post Conflict Development' (currently being
developed), 'Gender and Conflict' (currently being developed), 'Civic
Scenario training', Youth and Conflict 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 tcc@netuni.uva.nl
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 ($495), participant from so-called 'third world
countries' � 410 ($ 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 tcc@netuni.uva.nl. The
fees are due before the start of the courses.

With kind regards,

Lambrecht Wessels

The (European) Network University, [www.netuni.n/]
Email: tcc@netuni.uva.nl
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