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- Online Course.

6 week course, starting on August 15, 2011

- Costa Rica.

Recommended for: Students with a particular interest in indigenous populations, international law, environmental law and human rights.

- Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Geneva, Switzerland. 1 - 5 December 2009.

This week-long survey course is designed to provide a general overview of the specific issues relevant to the arms control and disarmament field as it exists today.

- UPEACE Campus, Costa Rica.

By Dr. Sachin Chaturvedi, Global Justice Fellow, Yale University.

- Global via Internet.

The Master of Arts in Sustainable Peace in the Contemporary World is offered through the Distance Education Programme at UPEACE. This is our first online Master’s programme, which will impart UPEACE’s core values, knowledge, principles, research abilities and practices, to a worldwide audience.

- San José, Costa Rica.

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? Learn more about this wonderful course here!

- UPEACE Campus, Costa Rica.

As educators, can we create learning experiences to equip our students for a future that is constantly changing? Join this 1-week intensive seminar!

- UPEACE Campus, Costa Rica.

The University is opening the course Peace Building and Conflict Recovery to all interested.

- UPEACE Campus, Costa Rica.

On Sat 17th April, the University for Peace will be hosting the Climate Change: Disaster or Opportunity? conference at our beautiful campus near Ciudad Colon.

15 March 2012 - San Jose, Costa Rica.

Negotiation is a basic skill we all use every single day. We negotiate when we ask our children to eat their vegetables and fruits, or when we debate with our friends what movie to watch tonight. We negotiate when we buy a car, ask for a salary raise, sign a contract, or when we shop online on websites such as ebay.com. This course aims to provide participants with the skills needed to be effective and successful negotiators.

Location: Online course Starting date: 6-week course, starting on March 15, 2012 Topics: It will cover the following topic areas: 1. Pre-Negotiation: The Game Before The Game 2. Planning for Negotiation: Positions, Interests, BATNAs 3. Negotiation Strategies and Tactics 4. Cross-Cultural Negotiation 5. Assisted Negotiations: Mediation 6. Online Negoti@tions

Course Instructor: Alexandru Balas has a PhD in Political Science from the University of Illinois, which is the same university where he received his MA in Political Science, specializing in International Relations. He also received a MA in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from the Sabanci University in Istanbul, Turkey.

For more information (i.e. cost, format, etc.): http://www.centre.upeace.org/index.php/courses/135-ncr Apply to this course: http://www.centre.upeace.org/index.php/contact/enroll/87-application

11 March 2012 - San José, Costa Rica.

The Salvadoran Supreme Electoral Tribunal has announced that the University for Peace has been accepted as international election observer in the coming legislative and municipal elections to take place on 11 March 2012.

The UPEACE International Election Observation Mission is composed of 68 people from 35 countries. All continents from the world will be represented and UPEACE students and staff will have a great learning, political and cultural experience. This effort is led by Br. Victor Valle, Associate Vice Rector.

Sixty students will have the option to earn 1 credit, as part of their plan of studies, for their participation in the election observation and fulfilling some academic requirements.

24 February 2012 - RCO Campus.

LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN NIGHT! 24 de February, 18:00 – 22:00

Rodrigo Carazo Odio Campus

Lots of music, fun and entertainment!!!

22 February 2012 - Classroom 4 .

Latino Film Series: Colombian Dream- Colombia 22 de February, 16:15 – 18:15

16 February 2012 - UPEACE Main Campus .

This Internship Information Fair is a great opportunity for students about th graduate to find out about organizations, NGO's, and private sector companies in Costa Rica, which can lead to potential internship opportunities.

For more information please get in touch with Christine Oatis (coaties@upeace.org) in the Career Development Office

14 February 2012 - AMSTERDAM.

Postcode Lottery raises record €284 million for charity

AMSTERDAM, 9 February 2012 – The Dutch Postcode Lottery will distribute a record €284 million this year to 85 charitable organisations. The Netherlands' largest charity lottery announced the figure today at its annual Goed Geld Gala, held this year in Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum. Thanks in part to the Postcode Lottery's 2.5 million players, the charities will be able to continue their important work and launch new projects. Half the price of every lottery ticket goes directly to charities working in the areas of development cooperation, human rights, nature conservation, the environment, and social cohesion in the Netherlands.

New and existing beneficiaries The Postcode Lottery’s increased revenues in 2011 allow it to support more charities than before and to help get new projects off the ground. In addition to the lottery's 81 existing multiyear beneficiaries, four new organisations can look forward to multiyear funding: CARE Nederland, IKV Pax Christi, the Marine Stewardship Council and the Hunger Project.

And nine more organisations, including WOMEN Inc. and Stichting De Noordzee, can count on one-time financing. In addition, 19 existing beneficiaries will receive extra contributions for special projects. For instance, Rutgers WPF will receive €1,975,024 for its Lovebuzz! project to encourage the discussion of sexuality at 300 secondary schools in the Netherlands. And IVN Natuur- en milieueducatie and the Oranje Fonds will receive €2,259,000 for Groen Dichtbij, a project that will bring together street and neighbourhood residents by putting them to work as a team to make their surroundings greener.

Two Dream Projects honoured The Postcode Lottery's Dream Fund gives charitable organisations an opportunity to realise courageous, groundbreaking new projects. Natuurmonumenten and Oxfam Novib received good news at this year’s Goed Geld Gala: the Dream Fund will be making their dream projects come true.

Natuurmonumenten and the Marker Wadden: restoration of the Markermeer – €15 million With a €15 million contribution from the Dream Fund, Natuurmonumenten will begin restoration of the Markermeer, one of Europe’s largest freshwater lakes. Sediment will be removed from the lake, and a shallow area with islands and wetlands will be developed on the lake’s northern edge, creating a large nature reserve, the Marker Wadden. Natuurmonumenten will use the silt to build the nature reserve. This approach has never been used on such a large scale anywhere in the world. Along with the nature reserve and the accompanying recreational opportunities, the project will generate employment and increased knowledge of innovative hydraulic engineering.

Oxfam Novib and Internet Now!: affordable solar-powered Internet service for 100 Ugandan villages – €7,047,817 Oxfam Novib will use its Dream Fund contribution of €7,047,817 to set up a telecom company in northern Uganda. It will supply 100 villages in remote areas with affordable Internet service in an innovative, energy-saving way. Internet access increases knowledge and employment. This model has the potential to be rolled out in other areas.

– ENDS –

Note to the editor (not for publication): For more information, photos and interview requests, please contact:

Selma Hetharia T: +31 20 573 7677, +31 6 4950 0852 E: communicatie@postcodeloterij.nl

Martijn van Klaveren T: +31 20 573 7677, +31 6 4950 0810 E: communicatie@postcodeloterij.nl

10 February 2012 - London.

In this Olympic year, London most likely represents the apex in the career of an athlete. In addition to athletic performance, London also hosts some of the world’s leading experts in the sports industry. This fact could not be ignored by IUM students enrolled in the Masters in Sustainable Peace through Sport (MSPS) and in the Masters in Sport Business Management (MSBM), who met some of these experts while they were on a 3-day trip to London (from January 22 to 25) to bridge course material discussed in class with practical experience. Students met Mrs. Lyz Twyford, Manager of the UNICEF programme International Inspiration. As part of its pledge to deliver on the Olympic Games’ promise to “reach young people all over the world and connect them with the inspirational power of the Games,” UK authorities including the British Council and UK Sport have teamed up with UNICEF to give some 12 million children the opportunity to participate in sport, physical education and play. Mrs. Twyford explained that by first building a relationship with Education Ministries, the programme provided training for 79,000 teachers, coaches and young leaders. In addition, students learned that adequate funding, a rigorous budget and having the right partners are essential to ensure the continuity of this initiative beyond the Games year. Students also met with Michael de Giorgio, founder of Greenhouse Charity, an organization that seeks to use sport as a catalyst to help underprivileged teenagers. Greenhouse identifies schools whose sports facilities are underused and offers them to work with inspirational coaches. In addition to various sports (football, basketball, table tennis, etc.), the organization relies on dance and drama activities for kids to be truly involved (this also reflects the founder’s view that sports is not the only way). As explained by Mr. de Giorgio, an important characteristic of Greenhouse is that it seeks to make a deep impact on the lives of young participants. As such, coaches must be technical experts but also social workers and interact with participants an average of three times per week through sessions that last one-to-two hours. Michael’s exchange with students was very inspirational, as he stressed the importance of having a strategy, incorporating the right people into the organization and being effective regardless of whether an organization pursues altruistic or for-profit motives. On day two, students went to Octagon’s London headquarters to meet Mr. Clifford Bloxham, founder of the world’s second largest sports marketing and agency firm, along with his colleague, Mrs. Philippa Gamble. Now part of the InterPublic Group, Octagon is known for its agency services (Octagon has represented top athletes including Michael Phelps, multiple Olympian champion swimmer, tennis stars such as Martina Hingis, Anna Kournikova, star rugby player, Jason Robinson, and many more), its marketing and communications services (Octagon represents global brands and Olympic Games official sponsors Visa and HSBC, for instance), and its rights representation services. The firm has locations worldwide especially in the US where it represents mostly NFL and NBA players. During the presentation, our hosts Clifford and Philippa described the firm’s vision, business approach and its client-relationship philosophy. Students particularly enjoyed the anecdotes and party analysis (i.e. the location of participants within the party is quite important). Mr. Bloxham’s emphasis on the importance of effectiveness and communication skills for those seeking to enter and grow in the sports industry concluded the fruitful discussion. It was of great satisfaction to hear practitioners and recruiters stress the very same skills that echo and reinforce professors’ recommendations offered in the classroom. Lastly, students met with Mr. Nick Keller, founder of Beyond Sport, “an entrepreneurial network of brands and businesses specializing in the development of sport, entertainment and social properties.” As such, the organization designs and manages events, business summits and networking events and runs innovative awards programmes as a means of identifying and rewarding sport-related community initiatives. Beyond Sport is organized around three key activities: philanthropy (essentially from the New York office), sport business (London), and sport for development programs or SDP (Johannesburg). The group was quickly captivated by Nick’s energy and passion for his business and the sports world in general. A former rugby player and later sports agent, he insisted on the need for organizations to be effective, whether for-profit or not-for-profit. Mr. Keller sees the sports industry through the eyes of a businessman and, as such, is rigorous, realistic and recognizes the importance of a solid network. These qualities have certainly helped the organization successfully launch Beyond Sport United, the first initiative to see all five big US leagues team up in partnership (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS). Students demonstrated great enthusiasm and satisfaction during this trip to London. Not only did they have the chance to interact with individuals who exhibit expertise and charisma, they also learned and strengthened important elements related to their studies. For instance, several of their hosts emphasized the notion of effectiveness, which is especially relevant given that despite being altruistic, the worlds of peace and sport require organizations to be rigorous in order to achieve corporate goals; as such, competency is highly valued.

Reporting from London, Professor Moïse Louisy-Louis

03 February 2012 - San José, Costa Rica.

A new UNESCO Chair on Education for Sustainable Development and the Earth Charter is being established, as a collaborative effort between the Earth Charter Center on ESD, the University for Peace (UPEACE) and UNESCO for a period of three years.

The purpose of the Chair is to promote transformative education experiences that cultivate the fundamental values and ethical vision necessary to move towards a more sustainable world.

The uniqueness of this project is that it will work in the intersection between education, sustainability and ethics using the Earth Charter as a framework. It will develop workshops and courses for educators, young leaders, and business groups under this theme. The courses will also offer an opportunity to further explore practical implementation of the sustainability paradigm and the Earth Charter principles in management, leadership and education settings.

The specific objectives of this Chair include:

1) Contribute to the sustainability research field by developing, in coordination with a network of organizations, essays, books, and other publications related to education for sustainability.

2) Collaborate with universities and other education and research centers in the implementation of the UNDESD, working in the field of education for sustainability to enhance the process of incorporating values of sustainability into educational settings.

3) Design and organize transformative learning courses, workshops and materials on ethics and sustainability for various groups.

4) Offer hands-on training on tools for ethics-based evaluation processes based on the Earth Charter.

It is envisioned that this effort will facilitate collaboration among researchers, universities and education centers from all regions of the world interested in this field of research and training: education, sustainability and ethics using the Earth Charter as the basis.

The Agreement to establish this UNESCO Chair was signed in January 2012 by UNESCO Secretary General, UPEACE Rector and the Earth Charter Center for ESD Director. The initial partner institutions joining this UNESCO Chair are: University of Brighton (UK), National University (UNA, Costa Rica), University of International Cooperation (UCI, Costa Rica), La Salle University (Costa Rica) and Simon Bolivar University (Venezuela), but it is expected that many others will be involved.

10 January 2012 - UPEACE campus.

Prof. Oliver Richmond, who developed the theory of liberal peace, made a presentation at UPEACE on Tuesday 10 January 2012. He explored often countervailing forces and norms of state formation, statebuilding, and peacebuilding according to their associated theoretical approaches, concepts and methodologies; introducing the new concept of ‘peace formation' which counterbalances the previous concepts' reliance on internal violent or externalised institutions and agency, reform and conditionality.

January 2012

05 January 2012 - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. .

Call for Papers, Book Reviews and Briefings - Africa Peace and Conflict Journal. Theme: Governance and Security in Africa

January, 2012 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 any discipline peace and conflict studies, international relations, history, sociology, political science, media studies, law, etc. are invited to submit papers, book reviews and briefings for publication. The APCJ will endeavor to publish articles reflecting a diversity of topics and a diversity of approaches.

The theme for June, 2012 APCJ issue is Governance and Security in Africa.

This broad theme seeks to cover areas including but not limited to: Elections Corruption Good Governance Regional Integration Human Rights Public Policy and other related governance issues.

Papers should be 7,000 words maximum and be critical case studies and/or thematic discussions and analyses of topical governance and security themes. Book reviews should be 1,500 words maximum and briefings should be 2,000 words maximum, there will be a preference for reviews of decisive works that have transformed global thinking on African peace and conflict in the past thirty years. It is hoped that these reviews and briefings will serve to address the growing demand for research on the continent. Papers with a strong POLICY FOCUS will be given HIGH PRIORITY for this issue. The aim of the APCJ 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 engages with one another on issues relating to continental peace and security. Papers, reviews and briefings 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 recognized and references provided in footnotes.

Articles must conform to the Guide for Contributors and may be submitted to editor@upeace.org and assted@upeace.org

To subscribe, please contact: The Managing Editor, Africa Peace and Conflict Journal UPEACE Africa Programme P.O. Box 2794 Code 1250 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Telephone: (251) 11 618 0991 Fax: (251) 11 618 0993 Email: editor@apcj.upeace.org and assted@apcj.upeace.org

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