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Focus on Central America: University of Peace
The University of Peace, the UN-mandated Graduate School of Peace and Conflict Studies, offers masters degrees with a difference. QS topgradschool takes a look.
As the world of global postgraduate education grows ever more competitive, how do universities stand out from the crowd? Just as graduates need to gain that advantageous edge over their counterparts, so too do universities, as year upon year, they vie for the most sought after of prizes – student enrolments.
One university has found that edge. No, its masters degrees don’t rank in the Times Higher – QS World University Rankings, nor does it boast campuses around the world. Instead it’s doing its own thing and getting recognition for it. Situated in the Central American country of Costa Rica, 20 miles west of the capital city San Jose, is the University for Peace, or UPeace, as it is known affectionately by staff and students.
Established in December 1980 as a Treaty Organization by the UN General Assembly, the University of Peace is a United Nations mandate. Its mission:
“to provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace with the aim of promoting among all human beings the spirit of understanding, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, to stimulate cooperation among peoples and to help lessen obstacles and threats to world peace and progress, in keeping with the noble aspirations proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations.”
Despite its close affiliation with the United Nations (UN), UPEACE is not subject to UN regulations and is directed by its own council of renowned personalities with expertise in peace and security matters. It is the only university in the UN system offering academic degrees in the field of peace and conflict studies, embracing an innovative and inter-disciplinary approach across its nine masters degrees. Those programs focus on: security and peace, gender and peace building, international law and human rights, conflict studies, dispute resolution, sustainable development and peace education.
All programs include in their curricula components of gender, human rights, environmental and economic development and interactive participatory learning.
Dr. Amr Abdalla, Vice Rector of UPEACE, says: “Students here receive a unique education in which they are exposed to multicultural and ethical perspectives, rigorous theory and practical applications. UPEACE is open to non-traditional approaches to education, including distance learning. All programs include in their curricula components of gender, human rights, environmental and economic development and interactive participatory learning.”
Up to 250 students and staff from more than 60 countries live in the small community of UPEACE but its graduate programs are available to others further afield. UPeace works with organizations in Africa, Europe, Central Asia, USA and Asia Pacific as well as offering distance-learning opportunities through the Sharing Knowledge for Peace Program.
Sarveswaran Arulanantham from Sri Lanka is currently studying a Masters in International Peace Studies and considers the university to be “the best place to study a course in peace and conflict”. He says: “The courses are very relevant to my country and they are not available in the universities in my region at the standard of UPEACE.”.
The institution also offers a semester abroad program, offering graduate students from other institutions the opportunity to enrol in UPEACE courses for credit offered during a semester, as well as training and workshops for organizations, institutions and partners worldwide on issues relating to peace and conflict. At present, UPEACE is developing advanced qualifications beyond the masters degree.
The Unversity of Peace initiative and success is a good example of how postgraduate education in Central America is a growing phenomenon.
The Unversity of Peace initiative and success is a good example of how postgraduate education in Central America is a growing phenomenon. The QS World Grad School Tour, the world’s only global series of masters and PhD fairs, has been travelling to the region for the last eight years. Peter MacDonald, the director of the tour, says the quality of candidates attending the Central American fairs is very high.
“Our fair in San Jose last year was fantastic. We had over 1,000 candidates register, all of whom had an excellent level of English. I definitely think the quality of candidates who attended our fair was a reflection of Costa Rica’s education system. This is also why the QS World Grad School Tour is planning to visit San Jose again in March 2009. ”
