The Swiss Peace Foundation is a general institution in the field of conflict resolution and peacebuilding, established in 1988 by professionals in such fields. The foundation has been contributing to worldwide institutions including the United Nation (UN) and the European Union (EU), as well as experts, well known for its profound analysis and practical proposals, and training of practitioners.
In recent years, with the partnership of the University of Basel, the foundation has been developing various high-level practical trainings, and a diploma having the same validity as a masters would be awarded if one obtains necessary credits. Usually, the event has been held in the University of Basel, however, due to the Covid-19 crisis, it will be held online.
Swiss Peace Foundation website:
https://www.swisspeace.ch/
Below, a student reports on his participation in a course offered by the Swiss Peace Foundation.
Name: Yosuke Nagai
Affiliation: Graduate School of Social Sciences 2nd-year doctoral student attending: Strategic Dialogues in Peace Processes
My name is Yosuke Nagai, a second year of a doctors program in the Graduate School of Social Sciences. As a working professional, the CEO of Accept International, and a mentor of UN-HABITAT, I have been engaging in conflict areas such as Somalia, to de-radicalize defectors and incarcerated members of violent extremist organizations and prevent radicalization of youth. From November 2nd 2020 to November 11th 2020, I have participated in the program of Strategic Dialogues in Peace Processes online.
Reasons for application
The Strategic Dialogues in Peace Processes, held with the partnership of the University of Basel, is a program to study strategic dialogues in peace processes targeting practitioners of conflict resolution and peacebuilding. My doctoral dissertation research was written to examine a profoundly realistic and practical resolution against an actual problem that is in issue right now. I decided to join the program, with the notion that by studying both theory and practice of strategic dialogues connecting to conflict resolution and peacebuilding, in complex conflicts unable to sign peace treaties, it will significantly contribute to the discussion of my research and the specific solution presented subsequently.
Content of the program
The program is an interactive one, where participants are able to study the theory and experience practices of strategic dialogues in peace processes. As not only the professors teaching the program are experts of the field, but also the practitioners have been practitioners in it, the program is of significant high quality. The curriculum was highly interactive, even when talking about theory, proceeding with a mixture of role-playing and debates with the staff and participants that are practitioners just like me. In case studies, we have focused on cases such as the peace treaty of Colombia, and the national dialogue of Yemen, deeply analyzing and examining them together.
Advice to future participants
I have participated in numerous training programs of universities and institutions worldwide, though it was the first time for me to participate in such a highly proficient program, taught by world-famous experts in the field. Even though participants are required to have cumulative experience as a practitioner, and the program itself is highly intensive, abundant curriculums enabling participants to deeply study theory and practice are there, thus I would recommend individuals interested in the programs to look into the website.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Global Asia Research Center for their support. With the knowledge gained from the program, I would like to utilize it to my doctoral dissertation research and practices in conflict areas.
