16 Aug 2013

Academic Post–Graduate Certificate in Conflict Transformation –A Partnership between Corrymeela and St Mary’s University TexasIf you are a woman under 35 or involved in working with young people, have a graduate degree and would like the opportunity to study this on–line Post–Graduate Certificate.

Corrymeela is excited to be partnering with St Mary’s University Texas in the design and delivery of this new course starting in September 2013. The course promises to bring together a cohort of international practitioners into a learning space that creatively reflects on praxis.  

This innovative certificate is built around four courses designed to equip participants with dynamic and imaginative approaches to the constructive transformation of violent conflict within and between communities. 

Through comprehensive online instruction and two collaborative weeks in Northern Ireland, this four–course certificate will emphasize the creative processes and structures of conflict transformation, offering participants with theoretical and practical methods of identifying and responding to rival narratives – religious, ethnic, tribal, or otherwise – and destructive structures that stimulate and sustain violent conflict.  through academic learning, critical thinking sessions, tailored field studies, established and emerging intervention methodologies, and problem–solving and practitioner workshops, participants will collaborate to develop creative peace–building and reconciliation strategies to take back to their respective communities and areas of vocation.

The academic delivery of the certificate program will be accomplished through blended instruction.  Each of the first three courses will be conducted over eight weeks though comprehensive online instruction.  The fourth capstone course will involve four weeks of independent case study research, followed by fourteen days of intensive practitioner workshops and a tailored field study in Northern Ireland.

• Unit 1:  IR8305 Conflict Transformation:  Theory and Practice
• Unit 2:  IR8351 Identity, Religion, and Violent Conflict
• Unit 3:  IR8352 Models for Engagement and Encounter
• Unit 4:  IR9302 Capstone Field Study Course culminating in two– week field study project in Northern Ireland at the Corrymeela Residential Centre in Ballycastle.

 Corrymeela is offering one full academic bursary to cover the costs of the course.

Please note it does not cover any travel or visa costs incurred in attending the two week intensive in Northern Ireland (16–30th May 2014). 

The bursary is contingent on candidates meeting the academic course requirements laid down by St Mary’s, for full details please follow the link below

https://www.stmarytx.edu/academics/graduate/masters/internationalrelations/certificate/

To be considered for the bursary the candidate must be willing to work with Corrymeela in Unit 4 to identify a case study for research, based on an aspect of Corrymeela’s work.

This bursary is being provided through the Ray Davey Youth Fund and so prospective candidates must be either under 35 or directly involved in the working with young people.

On this occasion preference will be given to a female candidate.‘

Candidates must be able to start the course at the start of September and MUST be available for the intensive in Northern Ireland in May.  Candidates must have good internet access.This is an ideal opportunity for a person who has been involved previously with Corrymeela through any of our programmes to re–engage with Corrymeela and progress their learning.

To apply for the bursary candidates must:

• Meet all of the course requirements– This must be evidenced in the bursary application.
• Be under the age of 35 or work directly with young people
• Complete a personal statement saying clearly why they should be considered for this bursary in no more than 500 words.
• Be willing to use a case study identified in conjunction with Corrymeela as the basis for the research project in Unit 4.

Applications should therefore include:

1. Contact details
2. A CV to include evidence showing clearly how the course entry requirements are met.
3. Personal Statement.

The successful candidate will then have to complete the application process to St Mary’s. Applications must be returned by noon (GMT) Wednesday 28th August 2013 to Susan McEwen, Development Director, Corrymeela Community, susanmcewen@corrymeela.org