Youth and Conflict - Conflict Resolution Education in Central Asia

The Center for Conflict Studies (CCS) at the University of Marburg is delighted to announce the call for applications for the international summer school “Youth and Conflict - Conflict Resolution Education in Central Asia”. The CCS has been awarded a grant by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to organize the summer school in collaboration with the Kyrgyz Russian Slavonic University (KRSU) and the DAAD in Bishkek. The summer school will take place at KRSU on August 25 - 31, 2013.

The summer school deals with the role of the youth in Central Asia with a special focus on conflicts and conflict resolution approaches. The role of youth with regard to conflicts is ambiguous. Youth may play a central role as a high-risk group for conflict escalation as well as be „agents of change“ who can stimulate a peaceful development and social consensus within conflict societies. On average, Central Asian societies are rather young with a high percentage of young people who have great impact on the societal development. Central Asia has been in transition since the end of the Cold War and has had to deal with violent conflict where „youth bulges“ at times played an important role for the conflict process. An in-depth analysis of the role of youth in connection with conflict in Central Asia therefore lies at hand.

The objectives of the summer school are threefold: 

• First, students will receive training in approaches to conflict resolution and mediation. 
• Second, students will be introduced to conflict resolution education and the role of marginalized youth in conflict transformation. 
• Finally, students will apply the acquired skills in practice through the analysis of specific conflicts in Central Asia.

FINANCIAL CONDITIONS: Thanks to the financial support by the DAAD we can offer full funding for travel and board for all accepted applicants. Accepted applicants are asked to book tickets to Bishkek early in advance.
 

ELIGIBILITY: Students must hold a BA degree and have Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen or Uzbek citizenship. Applications from nationals of other countries will not be accepted. In addition, a small number of Master or doctoral students from Germany can also be funded. 

 
APPLICATION: All applicants are asked to submit a CV of no more than two pages and a letter of motivation. The letter of motivation must not exceed 700 words. The letter of motivation should outline the reasons for applying and the intended benefits you expect for your further studies at university, research or professional career.

Please send your application to summpacs@staff.uni-marburg.de. DEADLINE: April 15, 2013. Applicants who are selected will take part in an essay competition (deadline: August 1, 2013).