Course Descriptions

The Summer Professional Training Program occurs over a two-week period in May. Participants are allowed to take one (1) course each week as well as an additional weekend course. We encourage participants to take as many classes as they are able but it is not mandatory to take courses both weeks. Each weekly course costs $735. The weekend course costs $400. AU Grad Students will pay standard payment per credit, without additional fees. Please contact pdi@american.edu with any questions.

Take a moment to look at the following descriptions and decide which classes are right for you!

Week 1: May 14-18, 2012

Religion and Culture in Conflict Resolution

Trainer: Mohammed Abu-Nimer
M-F 9am-5pm, $735 or 2 credits

Syllabus

This course focuses on the impact of cultural and religious factors in peacebuilding processes. Participants explore the role of cultural and religious identities in peacebuilding, and gain concrete skills and approaches to integrate with their ongoing work.

Course Objectives:

• To provide an overview of the basic concepts in conflict resolution
• To analyze the complex relationship between conflict resolution and culture, focusing on the importance of cultural differences and perceptions
• To understand how ethnography can be used as conflict resolution tool as well as to learn about training in intercultural conflict contexts

Human Rights Advocacy & Peacebuilding

Trainer: Julie Mertus
M-F 9am-5pm, $735 or 2-3 credits

Syllabus

This course seeks to deepen understanding of the role human rights play in peacemaking and “peace-breaking,” i.e., conflict. It asks: How can fields like human rights and peace studies, with such different orientations and assumptions, support one another’s advocacy and promote long-term peace and justice?

Through mini-lectures, interactive exercises, simulations, media and small group discussion, students will learn proven advocacy methods, explore cutting-edge issues and practice advocacy skills. The course is devoted to aspects of advocacy, which despite their importance are left out of both human rights and peacebuilding curriculum, such as: how to read your audience, address ethical concerns, identify stakeholders, frame your message, use media effectively and create an appealing advocacy strategy. Interviewing, report writing, monitoring and evaluation are not only discussed – they are practiced.

The design of the course aims to serve a wide range of U.S. and foreign participants with a keen interest in human rights advocacy. This course will be of special interest to anyone planning an advocacy campaign. The course may be of particular interest to students of human rights, international law, journalism, political science, international relations, ethics and philosophy. The design of the course enables the course to serve several levels and types of participants simultaneously: J.D., M.B.A., B.A. and PhD students, as well as field practitioners.

Weekend Course: May 18-20, 2012

Monitoring & Evaluation as a Learning Discipline

Trainer: Carolyne Ashton & Jerome Helfft
F-Sun 9am-5pm, $400 or 2 credits

Monitoring and evaluation are the learning disciplines most readily available for peacebuilding practitioners. Participants familiar with the theory and practice of peacebuilding, but less so with monitoring and evaluation, will find this introductory course helpful in acquiring tools for analysis, reflection and learning. The course uses experiential learning activities and practical exercises to build skills and gain experience; several of which are ideal for setting the stage for participatory evaluation. Participants will work on the theories of change either behind their own initiatives or select case studies and develop their own evaluation plans focusing on outcome level changes.

Week 2: May 21-25, 2012

Designing and Implementing Inclusive Peacebuilding Programs

Trainer: Tom Lent
M-F 9am-5pm, $735 or 2 credits

Designing and budgeting for projects that both foster development and build peace is a significant challenge. Community and national leaders and their allies need to draw on and integrate conceptual frameworks, analysis, planning tools, and implementation strategies from the fields of peacebuilding and development. This course will help participants think through and practice this type of integrated planning and design work in a hands-on dynamic way.

Managing Humanitarian Operations in Conflict Areas

Trainers: Howard Roy Williams & Steve Hansch
M-F 9am-5pm, $735 or 2 credits

The course will enhance participants’ knowledge and skills relevant to better managing complex humanitarian emergencies. Better management lessens the impact of crisis and speeds responsible recovery, thus reducing violence and encouraging peace. Participants will learn about field coordination issues among NGOs, Red Cross agencies, the United Nations and donors. Real case examples will be drawn upon. Differences in field programming and decision-making will contrast between relief and recovery. The course is conducted using a fast-paced simulation with participants performing as professional field and headquarters personnel responding to a humanitarian emergency. Throughout the intensive period, the participants are tasked with the necessity for timely response to a series of complex and changing events. Scenarios have been designed around the themes of (1) assessment and analysis, (2) response, and (3) monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Policies, standards and best practices are introduced to advance-frame assignments and in after-action review sessions. As the simulation mimics real humanitarian processes and positions, participants will strengthen their knowledge and skills for appropriate application in their respective home environments.