Centre for Peace StudiesFaculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education

Centre forPeace Studies

The Centre for Peace Studies (CPS) is part of the University of Tromsø in Norway. Located right in the middle of campus, CPS houses staff and students from all over the world, creating a vibrant environment both socially and academically.

The centre’s activities revolve around three main components, the Master of Peace and Conflict Transformation programme (MPCT), research and outreach. These components are presented in this information pamphlet.

CENTRE FOR PEACE STUDIES

HISTORYFounded by Professor Ole D. Mjøs in 2002, CPS still is the only university-based peace centre in Norway. It was established with funding from the Norwegian Parliament to help to promote ”peace by peaceful means”, non-violent conflict resolution and peace education.

“… we have a chance to combine knowledge, experience and dreams in a way so as to change the culture of war to a culture of peace.”

Ole Mjøs, CPS founder and former Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee

MISSIONThe defining aim of the Centre for Peace Studies (CPS) is to explore non-violent ways of handling conflicts and promote peaceful relations between individuals, groups and nations.

In order to understand peace, it is imperative to understand conflict: why conflict erupts, what makes conflicts breathe and live, and how conflicts leave long lasting impressions on societies. However, peace is more than the absence of war. It is a state in its own right, built on hard work and compromises. Peace is a state that requires con-stant gardening.

At the Centre for Peace Studies, we explore the fine arts of such gardening.

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• Peace by peaceful means

• Peace and peaceful conflict transformation

• Origins and causes of conflict and the crucial importance of understanding “the other”

• Innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to studies and research

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CPS aims to be a knowledge hub for peace education and the political and socio-economic dimensions of peace-building.

MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMME IN PEACE AND CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION (MPCT)The English-taught and interdisciplinary Master’s programme offers you the opportunity to study non-violent forms of conflict transformation and how to build peace by peaceful means.

WHAT IS PEACE STUDIES? Peace Studies is an academic tradition spanning the social sciences that seeks to analyze the nature of physical, but also structural, forms of violence with the normative goal of affecting a more desirable human condition. Peace studies is often interdisciplinary, drawing from perspectives across the social sciences such as political science, geography, economics, psy-chology, sociology, history, anthropology, and religious studies.

WHAT IS MPCT? Drawing from a diverse range of academic traditions, the MPCT is a truly interdisciplinary study programme aimed at building a deep un-derstanding of the many embodiments of violence and the pathways to their reduction. The MPCT is unique in its commitment to academic rigor balanced against the normative challenge of building peace.

STUDY TOPICS• Peace theory

• Western social and political thought

• International law

• Political economy

• Peace education

• Human rights

• Just war theory

• Gender relations

• Transitional justice

• DDR (disarmament, demobilization and reintegration)

“… it is today’s students who will have to meet the challenge of creating a culture of peace within and outside educational institutions in the future.”

Ole Mjøs, CPS founder and former Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee

KEY FACTS • Intensive teaching during the first year

• Data collection during the summer months

• Self-selected thesis topics

• Teacher-led thesis seminars

• Exciting and informative guest lectures

• Conflict transformation role-plays

7 REASONS FOR CHOOSING MPCT 1. Arctic setting

2. International environment

3. Interdisciplinary approach

4. No tuition fees

5. Availabilty of quota scholarships for students from developing coun-tries

6. Availability of financial support for data collec-tion, conference partici-pation and internship

7. Supportive teaching and non-teaching staff

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS1. Bachelor’s Degree in social sciences, law,

health or humanities

2. Statement of purpose

How to apply: www.peace.uit.no

APPLICATION DEADLINESQuota scholarship students: 1 December

Self-financed international students: 1 December

Nordic students: 15 April

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STUDENT ADVISORChristin Elisabeth Webbmpct@peace.uit.no

CPS RESEARCH AND OUTREACHResearch topics• Peace Education

• Restorative Justice

• Livelihoods in Conflict-Affected Societies

• Critical Peace Studies and Phi-losophy of Science

• IRGR - International Research Group on Reintegration

Visiting Nobel Peace Prize LaureatesCPS has hosted and faciliated public lectures by numerous Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, including: Desmond Tutu, Muhammad Yunus, Shirin Ebadi, Wangari Maathai, and Leymah Gbowee.

Peace and Politics SeminarsAd hoc arena for informed debate on current issues along with the Political Sci-ence Research Group at UiT.

Arctic Peace Sympo-sium (APS) – Bian-nual ConferenceAPS aims at bringing new perspectives to the under-standing of the Northern Re-gion, as well as making the Arctic the point of departure for researching global issues such as peace and security, economic develop-ment and cooperation, resource management, and human rights.

Norwegian Peace Film Award (NoPFA)CPS initiated and partially funds the prestigious NoPFA prize, which is awarded every January at the Tromsø International Film Festival (www.tiff.no).

CPS OPPORTUNITIES• Join CPS as a Peace Scholar through the Visiting Fel-

lowship Programme

• MPCT - Apply for admission to the Master’s Degree Programme

• “Freemover stay in Tromsø” - take MPCT courses for one semester as a UiT student

www.peace.uit.no

International cooperation• Barents Peace Education Network

• American University of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan

• Toyo University, Japan

• Project Haiti – Solidarity in Practice

• Sesam - Dilla University, Ethiopia

• Visiting Fellowship Programme

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Director Christine Smith-Simonsen Phone: (+47) 776 46 761 E-mail: christine.smith-simonsen@uit.no

Academic Coordinator Percy Oware Phone: (+47) 776 45 614 E-mail: percy.oware@uit.no

Head of Administration Elisabeth Sandersen Phone: (+47) 776 44 744 E-mail: elisabeth.sandersen@uit.no

Student Advisor Christin Elisabeth WebbPhone: (+47) 776 46 180 mpct@peace.uit.no

Address: Centre for Peace Studies University of Tromsø N-9037 Tromsø Norway

Contact:Phone: (+47) 776 44 300Fax: (+47) 776 45 919 E-mail: mail@peace.uit.no

www.peace.uit.no

PEOPLE AT CPS

CENTRE FOR PEACE STUDIES