International Institute on Peace Education (IIPE)

The International Institute on Peace Education (IIPE) 2010 will take place in Colombia from July 12-18, 2010. The Institute is being co-organized by the National Peace Academy (home of the IIPE secretariat) and Fundación Escuelas de Paz in partnership with the Colombian National Ministry of Education and a consortium of organizations invested in furthering peace education in Colombia.

IIPE was founded in 1982 by Dr. Betty Reardon and faculty colleagues at Teachers College Columbia University and has been held annually in different parts of the world. The IIPE is not a conference but rather a “learning community” in which the organizers and participants work together to nurture an inclusive, highly interactive learning environment toward practicing a culture of peace. It is a multicultural and cooperative, intensive experience in which participants interact through plenaries, workshops, reflection groups and informal activities to learn from and with each other about substantive peace issues and interactive teaching approaches. The IIPE is also an opportunity for networking and community building among those who educate and work for a culture of peace in the host region and around the world.

The theme that will form the common inquiry of IIPE 2010 is “Learning to Read the World from Multiple Perspectives: Peace Education toward Diversity and Inclusion.”

This theme encompasses many of the concerns experienced by peace educators throughout Colombia and around the world. “Learning to read the world” is understood as reflecting multiple realities, including varied representative voices, and valuing limitless - even conflicting or contradictory - perspectives through participation in dynamic and fair, nonviolent exchanges. The processes of dialogical and reciprocal learning are as important as the exchange of best practices and alternative strategies in order to open boundless opportunities.

By reading the world, the IIPE inquiry seeks to address global problems that place the survival of all in jeopardy. The global culture of violence and the climate crisis require new approaches that must come out of a multiplicity of perspectives and inclusive dialogic grappling. Cross-global communication is essential to understanding how to address these problems that threaten the existence of global humanity and the life-sustaining Earth itself. The intentions of these critical debates are not to homogenize, nor develop a hierarchy of problems or solutions, nor even to change our individual priorities. Instead, the point is to challenge existing thinking and strategies so that creative, concrete, coordinated actions can be formulated. IIPE is a space to practice transnational, non-hierarchical, and complementary relationships in order to address these shared global problems, with each taking part from their our own locale, perspective, talents and working context.

Specifically, through inquiry into the overarching theme, IIPE 2010 participants will collaborate to identify, develop and strengthen national, regional and international networks of peace educators, with the capacities to influence public policies that reflect the needs and positive potential for inclusive and participatory governance. The practical objectives are to learn to create and facilitate dialogic opportunities, cooperative projects, and physical spaces for interaction amongst diverse and often excluded groups. In addition, practical pedagogical aims are to expand peace-learning practices in order to contribute human rights, inclusion, social justice, equity and ecological health as the goals of public policy. Education on all levels - formal and informal, life-long and intensive - is seen as the means for nurturing the capacities relevant to participation in peace building for a sustainable, life-enhancing society.

We invite applicants to join the IIPE 2010 inquiry. When applying you will be invited to submit suggestions for ways in which you might contribute to the IIPE program by facilitating learning through workshops, short presentations or strategic seminars on relevant sub-themes including: youth participation and responsibilities; identities and pluralities (ethnic and gender approaches); disabilities, inclusion and peace opportunities; human rights education as principles and visions for peace; specific human rights developments for specific groups—youth, women, impoverished, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, urban and rural groups, diverse ethnicities, migrants and internally displaced people; peace education during humanitarian crises; best practices in furthering peace, co-existence, and reconciliation; and advocacy for positive peace, formulations of public policy, social management responsibility, and actions from civil society.

Partner Organizations in Colombia
The Colombian National Ministry of Education; the Secretariat of Education of Bogotá; AECID (The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development); UNICEF – Colombia; Plan International; Facultad de Ciencias Políticas y Relaciones Internacionales de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana; Universidad de Andes CIFE; Fundación para la Reconciliación; Grupo Bolívar; Educación Esencial; Colegio Nuevo Chile.

Application Information
The 2010 IIPE is now accepting applications: www.i-i-p-e.org. Applicants can also request and submit a hard copy of the application. Applications must be submitted by April 1, 2010 for full consideration. Notices of acceptances will be sent in mid April.

The IIPE attempts to practice the principles of peace education by engaging all participants in our short-term learning community in an experience of participatory learning in which all can learn from each other. Therefore the IIPE is limited to 65 total participants. Having more than 65 participants diminishes the effectiveness of this aspect of the institute. The IIPE requires full-time participation from all participants. You must be able to participate in the full period of the IIPE (July 12-18) for your application to be considered.

Acceptance for participation in the IIPE is based upon applicant’s potential contribution to the goal of developing and strengthening peace education in the host region and toward a more global perspective on peace education among all. For full details on acceptance criteria and application procedures please visit the IIPE website.

Participation Fees
Participation fees for 2010 are still being determined. These fees will cover all onsite costs including food, housing (double occupancy), local transportation and excursions. Fees will soon be posted on the IIPE website.

Scholarship
The institute operates on a self-sustaining basis in which all participants, including the organizers and presenters pay their own travel and participation fees or find their own funding. The IIPE attempts each year to raise a small scholarship fund. If you think you will be in need of scholarship please review the scholarship guidelines on the IIPE website and complete the additional scholarship application when applying.

We also hope you might consider a contribution to the IIPE to fund scholarships. Your generosity will help ensure that those potential participants in greatest need of training and solidarity will be able to attend the institute. Click here to donate.


Contact Us
The International Institute on Peace Education
web: www.i-i-p-e.org email: info@i-i-p-e.org Tel: 202-556-1075

Care of the National Peace Academy
web: www.nationalpeaceacademy.us

Fundación Escuelas de Paz (Colombia)
web: www.escuelasdepaz.org Tel: (571) 3204873