Deadline:
April 30, 2024
Program Starts: June 12, 2024
Program Ends: June 21, 2024
Location(s)
United States of America
University of Basel
Overview
Learn about the core concepts, tools, risks, and opportunities for digital technology in peacebuilding. Put your knowledge into practice and learn from examples through applied learning.
Details
Digital technology brings opportunities and challenges to peacebuilding. These include digital tools, digital spaces where conflict and peacebuilding can happen, and the ways these are both democratized and weaponized. This course does not aim to transform all peacebuilders into technical specialists, but rather, to encourage you to engage with this increasingly essential part of the peacebuilding landscape.
In this course, participants will learn how to assess what digital technology is needed in peace programming. We will look at digital conflict drivers and how digital technologies are part of conflict contexts. We will also discuss policy recommendations and what is coming next to this evolving field. This course emphasizes applied learning. Working on case studies from several regions and contexts, participants will conceptualize and receive feedback on various types of digital peacebuilding research, projects, and project components.
Your benefits
By completing this course, you will acquire broad theoretical and practical understanding of how digital technology interfaces with peacebuilding. You will learn to assess the potential and risks of technology for peacebuilding and different methodologies to leverage it. The course includes a combination of lecture, case studies, exercises, reflection, and group work.
As a participant, you will:
- Learn about the opportunities and challenges of digital peacebuilding in theory and practice;
- Be introduced to digital tools, methodologies, and conflict drivers;
- Understand digital spaces as places for conflict and peacebuilding;
- Learn how to connect the online with the offline;
- Practice thinking innovatively within context and resource restraints;
- Practice researching and conceptualizing digital peacebuilding project components;
- Discuss digital policy recommendations;
- Exchange experiences with experts and peers and become part of a community of practice.
Course structure
The course is offered in an interactive virtual format for 6 half-days. It consists of preparatory readings, expert inputs, facilitated discussions, and group exercises.
An important component of this course will be applied learning. Participants will work with diverse case studies to conceptualize, analyze, and receive feedback on digital peacebuilding projects.
Course methodology
The course uses innovative teaching techniques to enhance the learning experience of our participants. These include:
- expert inputs from and exchange with international practitioners;
- exercises, case studies, and simulations in which participants apply the acquired knowledge and skills and relate them to their own experiences;
- peer exchange during which participants share best practices and develop strategies to face potential challenges in practice or research;
- self-reflection, in which participants deepen their knowledge on specific methodological tools and approaches and get feedback from trainers;
- social activities allowing participants to get to know each other and expand their professional network.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
This course is designed:
- For practitioners and academics who are interested in building on or developing their work at the intersection of digital and peacebuilding.
- As an introductory course for those who want to learn how to practically integrate digital technology into their peacebuilding work.
- For professionals with digital peacebuilding experience who would like to deepen their knowledge while exchanging with experts and peers.
- To create a community of practice for professionals to exchange current concepts and practical knowledge on the applications, best practices, opportunities, and limitations of digital technology for peacebuilding.
Is this course a good match for you? If unsure, do not hesitate to contact us for personal advice.
Candidates must have:
- a university degree in a related discipline such as political science, law, economics or sociology;
- at least two years of professional experience;
- a good command of English.
Unfortunately, we cannot provide scholarships for this course. Participants (or their employer) must be able to cover the tuition fee.
Please also note that your participation requires the following technical requirements:
- Internet connection: Stable connection with sufficient bandwidth
- Hardware: Laptop/ PC, headphones or loudspeaker, microphone and camera (Webcam)
Dates
Deadline: April 30, 2024
Program starts:
June 12, 2024
Program ends:
June 21, 2024
Program Starts: June 12, 2024
Program Ends: June 21, 2024
Cost/funding for participants
Tuition Fee: 1500 CHF
Certification: Successful participants receive a Confirmation of Participation. The course is open to the public. It is also part of the swisspeace continuing education programs CAS Peacebuilding Essentials and CAS Religion, Peace & Conflict, two postgraduate programs offered annually by swisspeace and the University of Basel, running from September to October.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
