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CONFLICT, PEACE AND SECURITY

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About

The online Master in Conflict, Peace and Security is a unique opportunity designed to enhance the understanding of conflicts In all their dimensions and to explore innovative approaches to their management, resolution and transformation, with the help of leading academic experts and experienced practitioners. Built on the combined expertise of UNITAR and Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, the Master’s programme aims to equip participants with a broad analytical skillset, as well as with first-hand knowledge and insights coming directly from the field.

The Master’s programme and related Specializations are suitable both for professionals working in conflict-prone environments within the framework of international, regional, governmental or non-governmental organizations, and for graduate students, researchers or anyone with an initial knowledge of and interest in conflicts and the best ways to address them constructively. By choosing the Master in Conflict, Peace and Security, students gain access to a broad community of faculty, peers, and alumni spread all across the world. Becoming a part of this community is a valuable asset for life.

APPLY NOW
SHARE

About

The online Master in Conflict, Peace and Security is a unique opportunity designed to enhance the understanding of conflicts In all their dimensions and to explore innovative approaches to their management, resolution and transformation, with the help of leading academic experts and experienced practitioners.

Built on the combined expertise of UNITAR and Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, the Master’s programme aims to equip participants with a broad analytical skillset, as well as with first-hand knowledge and insights coming directly from the field.

The Master’s programme and related Specializations are suitable both for professionals working in conflict-prone environments within the framework of international, regional, governmental or non-governmental organizations, and for graduate students, researchers or anyone with an initial knowledge of and interest in conflicts and the best ways to address them constructively.

By choosing the Master in Conflict, Peace and Security, students gain access to a broad community of faculty, peers and alumni spread all across the world. Becoming a part of this community is a valuable asset for life.

“Since early human history there has been a need for peace and security while managing and resolving conflicts that come from living in society. Nowadays more than ever, there is a need of highly skilled professionals in the peace, security and conflict fields.”

Dr. Daniel Rajmil, CPS Programme Director,
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

Curriculum

The Master in Conflict, Peace and Security is a certified degree awarded upon the completion of 60 ECTS. The Master is awarded according to the rules and regulations set by the Spanish education system. Giving its specificity, it does not give automatic access to Doctoral studies (PhD and similar). Validation of credits for access to such programmes can be requested from competent institutions.

Duration

1

year

extended to

2 years

Do you have any questions about this programme?

F.A.Q.

Applications

Applications are open throughout the year and students are accepted on a rolling basis. However, deadlines exist to be considered for a specific semester.

For fall semester

For spring semester

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Topics

covered within the Master’s include:
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Frequently Asked Questions

UNITAR has adopted a pricing system designed to provide access to its activities to individuals with limited resources while ensuring the financial viability of the programme. In this regard, UNITAR offers three categories of prices:

Master degree:

Full fee: EUR 7,408.00

The payment options at UOC are the following:

  • One single payment by bank transfer in Euros
  • One single payment by credit card in Euros.

Payment by debit card in instalments distributed as follows:

The the tuition fees for students enrolled in the master’s degree can be paid in up to 19 instalments distributed monthly plus one initial payment of 25% of the tuition fee.

UNITAR does not accredit courses taken by applicants and participants in other institutions besides the Open University of Catalonia. As a result, applicants will not be exempted from taking UNITAR or UOC courses on the basis that they have previously completed similar courses. Likewise, they may not receive a discount for the tuition fees.

The two degrees are different. The Postgraduate Certificate is shorter and cheaper than the Master’s degree and is open to applicants who do not have an undergraduate university degree. Courses in the Postgraduate Certificate are of the same quality and standard as those in the Master’s degree. The Postgraduate Certificate is not of the same level as the Master’s degree since it is shorter and no thesis has to be written. Both are university qualifications which are accredited.

The Master’s degree is based on the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) which is recognised throughout Europe and the world. There is no difference between the credits obtained in this Master’s degree and those obtained through face-to-face studies in other European universities.

The Master’s degree is recognised by the United Nations, including for employment purposes.

The entire programme is web-based and all courses take place online. You are not required to travel, even for your graduation. All you need is a reliable internet connection.

The programme is entirely web-based and no travelling is involved. It is designed to maximize learning and requires the full participation of each member. Adult education is very specific in that it entails the learner to use the knowledge they already possess and build upon it through application, reflection, and feedback. The activities are interactive and require the learner to engage not only on the topic but with other participants and the facilitator. This programme does not allow the participant to sit back and be fed the knowledge. Instead, it pushes the learner to maximize their own resources. The Programme does not include any final exams. To ensure that the continuous assessment process has been followed, you must have completed and submitted all the required continuous assessment tests and exercises.

In general, courses require participants to submit activities on a weekly basis and you may organise your study time in any way you want to meet the deadlines. If you go on mission, extensions may be granted by the course facilitator on a case-by-case basis. You must request the extension beforehand.

Beyond UOC and UNITAR staff, we invite experienced practitioners from our partner institutions, universities and organisations. With guest trainers and lecturers from various continents, the Master’s programme creates a stimulating balance between the theoretical and the practical and ensures that students receive cutting-edge and relevant knowledge.

To receive the Master’s Degree in Conflict, Peace and Security, issued by the UOC in partnership with UNITAR, candidates must complete the following courses equivalent to 60 ECTS (1500 hours) in no more than two years:

UN.000             Understanding Conflict and Conflict Analysis

UN.001             Conflict Resolution

UN.002             Introduction to Peace Operations and Milestones in UN peacekeeping

UN.004             Human Security in Post-Conflict Interventions

UN.006             Gender Matters

B1.044              Media and Conflict

B1.042              Philosophy of Peace and Non-Violence

B1.048              Game Theory

B1.046              Economy, Environment and Migration

B1.055              Research Methods

B1.049              Intercultural/Ethnic Conflict and the Management of Diversity

B1.051              Corruption, Conflict and Security

B1.050              Prevention and Transformation of Conflict

B1.101              Mandate Evaluation/Leadership and Strategic Planning

B1.045              Crisis Management

B1.700              Master’s Final Project

Each application will be reviewed by the Selection Committee of UNITAR and UOC. To gain admission on the official Master’s course, candidates must have an official university degree. This notwithstanding, UNITAR and the UOC may admit candidates with pending degrees, as long as all necessary courses for said degrees were passed. The Selection Committee will verify prior to enrolment that the courses taken were the equivalent level of a university degree and that they allow admission to postgraduate courses in the country of issue of the qualification. Candidates must be proficient in English and have reliable access to the internet.

The degree is not only for United Nations peacekeepers and the target audience includes:

  • Peace operation personnel;
  • Military and police personnel;
  • Civil servants and staff of international, regional and national organisations involved in peace and security;
  • NGO representatives and humanitarian workers;
  • Indigenous people’s representatives;
  • Researchers and academics;
  • Students;
  • Any person with responsibilities and interest in solving conflicts.
  • A completed application form;
  • A cover letter/personal statement (approx. 400 words) explaining your current position and why the chosen degree would be relevant for your career. You must convince the Selection Committee that you have the relevant experience or intellectual capacities to complete the programme and that you have the potential or ability to work in the field of peace and security;
  • An essay (approx. 400 words) on a subject related to inter-state or intra-state conflicts in which you display an intermediate level of knowledge on peace and security issues, sufficient proficiency in English and an academic writing style. All your sources and citations must be referenced and plagiarism may lead to the rejection of the application;
  • Copies of your previous degrees;
  • A Curriculum Vitae of maximum 8-10 pages;
  • A copy of a current passport;
  • A letter of reference.

Yes, your application will be reviewed and you may be pre-registered. However, you will only be registered on the programme once we have received all copies of your certificates and you have paid the tuition fees.

A Master’s degree is a valuable qualification that provides multiple benefits. Candidates who choose to pursue postgraduate studies in Conflict, Peace and Security may seek to:

  • Acquire up-to-date and advanced knowledge on issues related to peace and conflict;
  • Learn about cutting-edge methods and strategies to implement effective conflict prevention and conflict resolution programmes;
  • Develop transferable skills of interest to employers and the UN system, thus facilitating their recruitment in international or national bodies, NGOS, consultancy firms, etc…
  • Receive a degree from an accredited university to advance in their careers.

Graduating from the International Master’s degree in Conflict, Peace and Security will not automatically get you a job with the United Nations. However, it imparts knowledge and skills sought after by the United Nations and as such it will increase the quality of your application.

United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)

Division for Peace

Avenue de la Paix 7 bis, CH 1202, 2 Geneva, Switzerland

E-mail: conflictology@unitar.org

Testimonial

Dr. Daniel Rajmil, CPS ProgrammeDirector,
Universitat Oberta de
Catalunya

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European Economic and political integration

The dissertation is a largely self-directed piece of work that enables a student to explore an issue or theme in depth, building on the skills developed in other modules and the expertise gained through field practices. The dissertation or practice-based final work needs to be embedded in practice or addressing practice-based issues, preferably based on field research. Action-research and work-based research are strongly encouraged.

Elections and Voting as Instruments of Governance

The module presents an account of the history of electoral policy and practice; an overview of the policy elements which comprise an electoral process and their relationships; and an analytical framework for the development of skills in electoral policymaking, administration, and evaluation.

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Final Project

The dissertation is a largely self-directed piece of work that enables a student to explore an issue or theme in depth, building on the skills developed in other modules and the expertise gained through field practices. The dissertation or practice-based final work needs to be embedded in practice or addressing practice-based issues, preferably based on field research. Action-research and work-based research are strongly encouraged.

Direct Democracy (optional)

This module provides information necessary for electoral practitioners and administrators on procedures of modern direct democracy available in a growing number of jurisdictions worldwide. Two types of broad procedures are addressed: those initiated by citizens themselves, like citizens’ initiatives and popular referendums, and and those initiated by governments as mandatory referendums and non-mandatory plebiscites.

Policy Advice and Electoral Reform

In contrast to the previous modules that focus on substantive issues related to the electoral process, this module addresses the ways in which election practitioners might apply this knowledge in real world situations in order to improve the electoral process in their own or other countries around the world. Specifically, the module provides an overview of how practitioners may develop strategies to effect change in the electoral process for the benefit of voters and in support of democratic rights.

Electoral Observation, Evaluation, and Validation

This module provides students with an overview on the history and evolution of international and domestic election observation, the rationales for undertaking different types of monitoring efforts, and the varying operational approaches that are being used by practitioners in the field. At the same time, the module touches upon the evaluation criteria that can be used to render informed judgment on the quality of an electoral process.

Electoral Justice Systems

This module provides students with the knowledge and skills required to examine the models of electoral justice systems, alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanisms and adjudication procedures in order to be able to design, manage and monitor these systems. This course offers a comprehensive overview of formal and informal mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes, as well as policies and practices of preventing them.

Electoral Security and Conflict Prevention

Through case studies and examples, the module provides participants with an overview of the nature of electoral conflict and the vulnerabilities which can trigger such conflict; the analytical skills and frameworks to profile incidents of electoral conflict; and the tools and best practices to prevent, manage, or mediate electoral conflict.

Electoral Integrity and Malpractice

This module aims to identify the vulnerabilities and types of electoral malpractice and mispractice, and to introduce techniques and mechanisms that can prevent or manage such practices. More specifically, the module provides an overview of the typologies of electoral malpractice, the tactics used by perpetrators and investigation techniques used by enforcement stakeholders to prevent (or reveal and halt) electoral malpractice.

Media and Elections

The module is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills required to develop, manage, and monitor media regulations, media relations and rumour control. To do so, the module reviews media-engagement strategies; media relationships and communications techniques; traditional and new media, and their role at all stages of the electoral cycle; media monitoring mechanisms; and future challenges and opportunities.

Civic and Voter Education

The module is designed to provide students with an overview of guiding principles for civic and voter education, and an understanding of the educational mandate as well as legislative frameworks. On the basis of detailed context assessment, it focuses on the evaluation of educational and voter needs, message development as well as potential education programme preparation and implementation.

Elections and Technology

This module combines both a conceptual and practical approaches to understanding election technology applications and the impact and challenges of managing these technologies in different political environments. More specifically, the module focuses on the conceptual frameworks that allow to define election technologies, identify stakeholders, and compare types of applications, and formulate the criteria that guide the assessment, selection and implementation of election technologies.

Marginalized Electorates and Special Voting Programs

The module aims at providing students with: an overview on the sources and types of political marginalization that occur during elections; an explanation of the importance of marginalized electorates, special voting programmes and inclusive electoral environments; and an account of the most relevant principles for designing and implementing administrative and political mechanisms that can inform, enfranchise and empower these otherwise marginalized electorates.

Electoral Operations

This module provides an overview of substantive principles and the most fundamental technical issues, related to planning and implementing electoral operations. It systematically explores the options for the major activities that an electoral management body (EMB) must undertake at election time, and approaches to pursuing them effectively. In doing so, the module takes a substantial operational focus, emphasising the interconnectedness of the various areas of electoral management body (EMB) activity.

Voter Registration and Identification Systems

This module provides the exploration of the conceptual, legal, and administrative aspects of, and models for, voter registration and identifications systems in election administration. Twelve lessons help students to obtain the necessary skills to design, manage, and monitor voter identification/registration systems, and prevent and solve potential problems related to voter registers.

Electoral Planning and Budgeting

This module explores integrated electoral planning and budgeting and presents methodologies to enhance the democratic quality and technical efficiency of electoral administration through effective planning initiatives. More specifically, the module systematically explores the major factors that influence and structure the process of planning and budgeting for (and financing of) elections.

Political Parties, Campaigns, and Political Finance

This module focuses on the nomination and campaign stages, and gives particular attention to the rules governing political parties and candidates throughout the whole electoral process. More specifically, the module provides an overview of political party system features and options, and the impact of political party systems (and methods of financing them) on electoral campaigning and administration.

Understanding and Managing Boundary Delimitation

The module focuses on an overview of the concept of boundary delimitation, including the potential for political controversy and past abuses; a discussion of the analytical techniques that can detect, or measure the impact of, manipulation; and an analysis of the mechanisms that can enhance the credibility and legitimacy of delimitation and prevent potential abuse.

Electoral Systems and Managing Representation

Building on both an extensive literature and on the practical experience of EMBs around the world, the module focuses on an explanation of the importance of electoral systems in translating the democratic right to vote into practice; an overview on the main types of electoral systems; and an account of the most relevant approaches to the analysis and the key policy issues behind the design of these systems.

Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs)

This module focuses on Electoral Management Bodies’ (EMBs) structure and organisation as well as how they can protect their autonomy, exercise management control, safeguard integrity, maintain transparency, ensure efficacy, and professionally implement rules and procedures while keeping the system voter friendly.

Electoral Legal and Regulatory Frameworks

The module presents the sources and contents of the international legal framework, including regional obligations and commitments, to pave the way for subsequent courses that draw on comparative national practices. Moreover, the module profiles stakeholders of electoral legal frameworks, explores their interests, and illustrates how these interests impact the contents of legal frameworks and their implementation.

Elections and Voting as Instruments of Governance

The module presents an account of the history of electoral policy and practice; an overview of the policy elements which comprise an electoral process and their relationships; and an analytical framework for the development of skills in electoral policymaking, administration, and evaluation.

Post-Conflict States and Public Services

This module covers ways to repair the state, cities and public infrastructure after conflicts, and to preserve natural resources during and after wars. It also touches upon the actors involved in such processes and how they are financed. Numerous case studies like the Soviet Union, Iraq, Somalia, and Sudan are examined among else.

Migration, Borders and Refugee Law

Migration has become a major political, economic and security subject in the past 20 years, particularly in Europe and to a lesser extent in the United States. This module explores migration as the result of conflicts, humanitarian and economic crises.

Media, Journalism and Information in Times of Crisis

The media and in particular the new digital media influence significantly the opinion of countries and people internationally. How to deal with media in the age of fake news, tweets, and actors who deliberately twist the news? What is the status of and what to think about the news coming from journalists “embedded” in conflict zones?

Democracy, Gender and Conflict Prevention

Democratic systems have historically proven to be good protections against internal or external conflicts. Representative democracy, multi-party system, free elections – all are assets allowing for less recourse to violence. Is it still the case in the contemporary world since the emergence of new players on the international arena?

Human Societies, Religious or Ethnic Conflicts

Since the 1960s, the phenomenon of decolonization has been accompanied by numerous violent conflicts with the 2000s having seen the explosion of violence, especially on religious grounds. The module covers this historical overview as well as the areas of current tensions and the ways to prevent latent and future conflicts.

Natural Resources, Environment and Sources of Conflict

Access to drinking water, oil, natural and agricultural resources has become sources of tensions between states or components of the same state. The module is devoted to studying these phenomena that can be found on all continents.

Major Players in Conflict Resolution, Negotiation Skills

The module addresses the following questions: Who are the historical players in conflict negotiation? Have there been any new players in the past 20 years? Is the UN in crisis? What role for NGOs?

Independent Study*

This module is designed to offer the opportunity for in-depth evaluation and analysis of specific or cutting-edge topics not offered in detail in the taught curriculum.

Concepts and Principles of International Humanitarian Laws (from Sept 2023)

This module will facilitate the legal literacy of learners to understand the concepts and principles of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and its relation with humanitarian action and peacebuilding.

Triple Nexus, Localisation and Local Turn (from Sept 2023)

This module aims to investigate how local actors can bridge the gaps between humanitarian, peacebuilding and development initiatives and focus the importance of the localisation and local turn agenda to shape new standards, sustainability and the humanitarian architecture.

Mental health, Psychosocial Support, and Wellbeing in Conflict-affected Areas (from Jan 2022)

This module aims to explore, through a culturally sensitive lens, the impact of mental health and psychosocial problems on the wellbeing of humanitarian and peacebuilding practitioners as well as on the affected populations.

Forced Migration, Protection, and Humanitarianism (from April 2022)

This module explores the experience of refugees and other forced migrants displaced by conflict. It examines the causes of contemporary forced migration in order to understand the nature of migration flows and the corresponding humanitarian response.

Practice-based Study/Dissertation

The dissertation is a self-directed piece of work that enables students to explore an issue or theme in depth building on the skills developed in other modules and the expertise gained through field practices.

Conflict and Post-conflict Research: Methods and Ethics

This module aims to advance knowledge and understanding of research ethics, theory and practice and describes methods available when doing research in conflict and post conflict settings on a chosen subject area.

Post-conflict Stabilisation and Recovery

The module specifically looks at the role of different actors, involved at different levels and in different capacities in post-conflict stabilisation and recovery processes.

Protection of Civilians in Conflict and Post-Conflict Settings

This module reviews the critical issues related to the protection of civilians in conflict and post-conflict contexts by exploring different conceptual and operational frameworks.

Leadership, Team and Self-management in Conflict Settings

This module will allow you to critically examine some of the personal skills (or ‘soft skills’) needed by professionals working in humanitarian action and peacebuilding.

Humanitarian and Peacebuilding Programmes in Urban Conflicts

This module aims to provide an understanding of how to analyse the city and its physical, social, economic, political, cultural and symbolic spaces that play a relief role during a conflict, for urban-based forced migration and for peacebuilding.

Culture-Sensitivity in Conflict and Post-Conflict Settings

This module allows you to understand and deal with core issues related to culture, communication, trust building and culture-sensitivity.

From Conflict Sensitivity to Conflict Transformation

This module equips you with a sound understanding of the complexity of conflicts, including of conceptual frameworks and theoretical debates related to humanitarian action and peacebuilding in complex environments.

Master's Final Project

To complete the Master’s Programme, students are required to write the Master Final Project on a relevant topic of interest. For their dissertation, a personal supervisor will be appointed to mentor the students. The Master in Conflict, Peace and Security is subsequently awarded upon the completion of 60 ECTS.

Crisis Management

The end of the Cold War gave way to the emergence of new geostrategic realities with the proliferation of crises and conflicts, often related to ethnic or religious differences. In this international context, crisis management has become an indispensable political and military requirement. This course addresses the ways to identify, describe and critically assess some of the key current debates in the field of crisis management and related challenges facing the world today.

Mandate Evaluation/ Leadership and Strategic Planning

This course explores methods and challenges in the evaluation of peacebuilding and conflict resolution programmes. It provides an evaluation framework as well as practical suggestions for data collection and analysis, as well as the dissemination of findings.

Corruption, Conflict and Security

This course introduces students to the concept of conflict transformation and how it differs from conflict resolution, management, and prevention. It examines how conflict offers opportunities for constructive change and explores different tools and methods that can be used to seize them. Furthermore, it explores the role of communities and movements that exclude violence in seeking sustainable change.

Corruption, Conflict and Security

This course aims to provide a basic understanding of the concept of corruption, including its definition and measurement, the links between corruption and security, and between corruption and poverty, whilst also laying the foundation for some policy actions aimed at breaking the poverty/corruption cycle. Furthermore, the course examines how civil society could be harnessed to reduce instances of corruption.

Intercultural/Ethnic Conflict and the Management of Diversity

This course explores the intersection among multiculturalism, social conflict, and mediation/dialogue. It explores the nature of modern diversity in relatively stable, mostly democratic, societies, where there are “claims of culture”, that is, where claims to rights, practices, freedoms, entitlements, and benefits are based largely on the cultural attributes and cultural differences of the claimants.

Research Methods

The course encompasses both quantitative and qualitative methods in the discussion of the basic components of the research process: conceptualization and measurement, sample selection, and casual modeling. In addition to teaching techniques and conventions of doing research, the course also familiarises students with the critical issues in the philosophy of science, ethical questions, and how to write a research proposal.

Economy, Environment and Migration

Effective interventions need not necessarily address climate change, migration, and conflict simultaneously but must recognise the layers of relationships among them. The course examines what role mediating factors such as economic opportunity, levels of development, health indicators, and legal status play in the nexus between the environment and migration.

Game Theory

This course examines decision making in interactive environments. Although game theory is mostly economical strategy it has been used in many other branches too, including many military conflicts since its existence.

Philosophy of Peace and Non-Violence

The course is designed to provide the essential knowledge required by civilian, military and police personnel to function effectively in a UN peace operation. The objective of the course is to advance a shared understanding on the basic principles, guidelines, and policies that allow UN peace operations to function effectively in a coherent manner.

Media and Conflict

The media plays a major role in creating the perceptions and views of the “other”, and those perceptions are also often mentioned as causing or contributing to conflicts. Peace journalism is a relatively new transdisciplinary field that might be of interest to professional journalists in both developed and developing countries and to civil society activists, university researchers and others interested in the conflict-media nexus.

Gender Matters

The course relies on the underlying idea that the two fields of gender and conflict are critically interconnected. This connection is important to understand not only to grasp how gender may impact the emergence and unfolding of conflict, but also to assess how conflict affects women, girls, boys and men and sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) in what concerns violence, health impacts, economic activity, and political and civic inclusion.

Human Security in Post-Conflict Interventions

Stemming from the acknowledgement of the complex character of contemporary violence, human security focuses on the protection of individual lives and recognizes that threats to human security can arise from various sources. The goal of the course is to present the concept of human security in terms of an organising standard and to introduce the principles that inform the planning, implementation, and evaluation of human security-oriented interventions in post-conflict settings.

Introduction to Peace Operations and Milestones in UN peacekeeping

The course is designed to provide the essential knowledge required by civilian, military and police personnel to function effectively in a UN peace operation. The objective of the course is to advance a shared understanding on the basic principles, guidelines, and policies that allow UN peace operations to function effectively in a coherent manner.

Conflict Resolution

The course explores the different explanations offered by researchers regarding the emergence of conflicts as an almost unavoidable facet of human life. It outlines the main conflict theories, their core elements as well as the conflict resolution mechanisms that some of them entail. In subsequent stages, tools that can be used to understand conflicts and to design adapted conflict resolution initiatives are described.

Master in

CONFLICT, PEACE AND SECURITY

TOPICS

When inter- and intra-state conflicts are not handled carefully, systematic violence can affect the political, social, and economic realms of a country or region. By understanding the dynamics of a conflict, practitioners working in the field can develop plans that are more grounded in the actual context. The goal of the course is to provide participants with an advanced knowledge of conflict analysis principles and skills.

The course explores the different explanations offered by researchers regarding the emergence of conflicts as an almost unavoidable facet of human life. It outlines the main conflict theories, their core elements as well as the conflict resolution mechanisms that some of them entail. In subsequent stages, tools that can be used to understand conflicts and to design adapted conflict resolution initiatives are described.

The course is designed to provide the essential knowledge required by civilian, military and police personnel to function effectively in a UN peace operation. The objective of the course is to advance a shared understanding on the basic principles, guidelines, and policies that allow UN peace operations to function effectively in a coherent manner.

Stemming from the acknowledgement of the complex character of contemporary violence, human security focuses on the protection of individual lives and recognizes that threats to human security can arise from various sources. The goal of the course is to present the concept of human security in terms of an organising standard and to introduce the principles that inform the planning, implementation, and evaluation of human security-oriented interventions in post-conflict settings.

The course relies on the underlying idea that the two fields of gender and conflict are critically interconnected. This connection is important to understand not only to grasp how gender may impact the emergence and unfolding of conflict, but also to assess how conflict affects women, girls, boys and men and sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) in what concerns violence, health impacts, economic activity, and political and civic inclusion.

The media plays a major role in creating the perceptions and views of the “other”, and those perceptions are also often mentioned as causing or contributing to conflicts. Peace journalism is a relatively new transdisciplinary field that might be of interest to professional journalists in both developed and developing countries and to civil society activists, university researchers and others interested in the conflict-media nexus.

The overall objective of this course is to provide students with some theoretical-philosophical tools that will enable them to make informed and critical analyses of concrete situations of peace and violence in human relations, and to recognise and nurture the human competences to transform conflicts peacefully.

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This course examines decision making in interactive environments. Although game theory is mostly economical strategy it has been used in many other branches too, including many military conflicts since its existence.

Effective interventions need not necessarily address climate change, migration, and conflict simultaneously but must recognise the layers of relationships among them. The course examines what role mediating factors such as economic opportunity, levels of development, health indicators, and legal status play in the nexus between the environment and migration.

The course encompasses both quantitative and qualitative methods in the discussion of the basic components of the research process: conceptualization and measurement, sample selection, and casual modeling. In addition to teaching techniques and conventions of doing research, the course also familiarises students with the critical issues in the philosophy of science, ethical questions, and how to write a research proposal.

This course explores the intersection among multiculturalism, social conflict, and mediation/dialogue. It explores the nature of modern diversity in relatively stable, mostly democratic, societies, where there are “claims of culture”, that is, where claims to rights, practices, freedoms, entitlements, and benefits are based largely on the cultural attributes and cultural differences of the claimants.

This course aims to provide a basic understanding of the concept of corruption, including its definition and measurement, the links between corruption and security, and between corruption and poverty, whilst also laying the foundation for some policy actions aimed at breaking the poverty/corruption cycle. Furthermore, the course examines how civil society could be harnessed to reduce instances of corruption. 

This course introduces students to the concept of conflict transformation and how it differs from conflict resolution, management, and prevention. It examines how conflict offers opportunities for constructive change and explores different tools and methods that can be used to seize them. Furthermore, it explores the role of communities and movements that exclude violence in seeking sustainable change.

This course explores methods and challenges in the evaluation of peacebuilding and conflict resolution programmes. It provides an evaluation framework as well as practical suggestions for data collection and analysis, as well as the dissemination of findings.

The end of the Cold War gave way to the emergence of new geostrategic realities with the proliferation of crises and conflicts, often related to ethnic or religious differences. In this international context, crisis management has become an indispensable political and military requirement. This course addresses the ways to identify, describe and critically assess some of the key current debates in the field of crisis management and related challenges facing the world today.

To complete the Master’s Programme, students are required to write the Master Final Project on a relevant topic of interest. For their dissertation, a personal supervisor will be appointed to mentor the students. The Master in Conflict, Peace and Security is subsequently awarded upon the completion of 60 ECTS.

Understanding Conflict and Conflict Analysis

When inter- and intra-state conflicts are not handled carefully, systematic violence can affect the political, social, and economic realms of a country or region. By understanding the dynamics of a conflict, practitioners working in the field can develop plans that are more grounded in the actual context. The goal of the course is to provide participants with an advanced knowledge of conflict analysis principles and skills.

Scuola Superiore Santanna

In Italy is a public university that works in the field of applied sciences and offers PhD programmes, Master degrees, professional courses and continuing education programmes. The Scuola Sant’Anna’s scientific and research activities in the field of social sciences concentrate on conflict management, human rights, emergency response, democratisation, and good governance. Ever since 1998, the Scuola has developed extensive experience in electoral policy, practice, assistance and studies. Main activities carried out in this field include electoral trainings to election missions support and mentoring, technical assistance to national electoral commissions as well as capacity building of national observers.

Programmes in partnership: Master in Electoral Policy and Administration

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Institute For Democracy And Electoral Assistance

Is a global intergovernmental organization with a mission to support sustainable democracy building. It has 29 Member States representing Africa, the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe.

Programmes in partnership: Master in Electoral Policy and Administration.

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Hautes Études Internationales & Politiques

Founded in 1899 and located in Paris, France, HEIP (Hautes Etudes Politiques et Internationales) is one of the oldest higher education establishments in the field of international relations and political science in Europe. To set up and drive forward her project for a groundbreaking school, the founder, Jeanne Weill, better known under the nom de plume of Dick May, called on major thinkers of her day, such as Romain Rolland, Charles Péguy, and Emile Durkheim, etc. Today, the school continues this rich tradition of eclecticism by working with a range of renowned thought leaders and scholars from the field of political and social sciences.

Programmes in partnership: Master in Prevention, Arbitration and Resolution.

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Oxford Brookes University

is a public university located in the United Kingdom. Set in a historic student city, Oxford Brookes is one of the UK’s leading modern universities and enjoys an international reputation for teaching excellence and innovation as well as strong links with business and industry. Oxford Brookes has been named as one of the top 50 young (under 50 years old) universities in the world by the QS World University Rankings 2018 – and is the only UK university to make the list. The Master’s programme is run by the Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP), which is based within the School of Architecture and which provides a unique academic setting for the study of international development, conflict, disaster management, urbanisation, humanitarianism and human rights.

Programmes in partnership: Master in Humanitarian Action and Peacebuilding.

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The Open University of Catalonia

(Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, UOC) in Spain is an innovative Internet-based university that offers lifelong learning opportunities meant to help society advance and accelerate its development into the knowledge society. Its educational model is based on interactive e-learning methodologies, cutting-edge research, and personalization, which effectively enables students to become more competitive in their respective professional fields. The UOC forms part of an integrated network otf open universities globally and actively contributes to and benefits from this shared global knowledge space.

Programmes in partnership: Master in Conflict, Peace and Security

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