For the sixth successive year, the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Turin, Italy, offers its Masters in Peacekeeping Management.
The Masters leads to a post graduate qualification which equips students with the necessary skills and competences required to work in a diverse range of peacekeeping environments, crisis response situations reconstruction processes.
In particular, the Masters aims at providing students with professional skills in the following areas:
- Emergency Relief
- Humanitarian Assistance
- Refugee Assistance
- Human Rights
- Administrative Support and Logistics
- Election Operations and Monitoring
- Security
- Democratisation
- Capacity Building
The Masters is located in Palazzo Audisio, Maria Vittoria 35, Turin, Italy, where most academic activities take place. However, in order to further the learning process, there other activities at such locations such as the United Nations Campus, the Offices of the Red Cross, in addition to military training areas.
2. ACADEMIC PROGRAMME
Academic Teaching and Assessment takes the form of lectures, seminars, tutorials, group and individual sessions, practical exercises, distance learning, project work and role plays. All aimed at maximising the learning process and geared towards creating all-round professionals in Peacekeeping.
The methodology provides the following distinct characteristics:
- a balanced structure between both the theory and the practice of Peacekeeping
- an interdisciplinary approach providing in-depth knowledge in key areas of intervention
- practical exercises relating to technical operations
The Masters Course is divided into 4 modules:
Module I An introduction to the theory and concepts of major subjects needed to understand the principles used to analyse international and regional crisis situations, with particular attention placed on socio-cultural, economic, historical and legal dynamics.
Module II An analysis of crisis, conflict and post-conflict situations and of the responses to these situations in three macro areas:
- Conflict Transformation, Mediation and Negotiation;
- Emergency Management;
- Processes of Institution Building and Reconstruction.
Module III Workshops and practical exercises in: project cycle management; reporting; security; intercultural communication; stress management; media relations; first aid and preventative medicine; survival techniques and orientation within theatres of operation.
Module IV The Conceptualisation and Development of a Project.
3. TEACHING
Lessons are held from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 13.15 hrs. Students are also required to attend afternoon sessions when specific activities (such as training, exercises, class work, seminars and preparation for internships) are scheduled.
Attendance of the whole academic programme is considered mandatory and in order to obtain the Masters qualification students are required to have attended a minimum of 85% of the teaching periods.
For the 2006-2007 academic year the course will be conducted in English.
The course runs from 1st February 2007 to 13th July 2007.
There is also an introductory distance learning phase from December 2006 to January 2007.
4. ASSESSMENT and FINAL CERTIFICATION
Students undergo 7 assessments during the course relevant to the main areas of study with a Final Test involving the conceptualisation and elaboration of a project.
The award of the Final Mark is based on the average of the marks obtained in the seven pieces of assessed coursework and the mark awarded for the final project..
The Masters awards up to 60 University Credits (CFU) for those students who hold an Italian degree. The Scientific Committee may also award up to 20 University Credits to those students who have also completed other post-graduate courses.
In order to be awarded the “Masters in Peacekeeping Management” from the University of Turin, students will be required to:
- obtain a total of 60 credits from coursework
- pass the final piece of assessed coursework
- complete at least 85% of the academic programme
Successful students will be awarded a “Masters in Peacekeeping Management”. The Graduation Ceremony will be held in Turin.
5. CAREER GUIDANCE and INTERNSHIPS
The Masters takes its responsibility for preparing students for their future working environments very seriously. Students are guided towards taking a personal path towards self awareness and in evaluating their own professional profiles, thereby facilitating them in their introduction to their chosen work environment.
On a regular basis, group and individual meetings are organized to facilitate students in the identification of internships within national and international organizations. The Masters also contributes towards some of the overall costs associated with internships.
Furthermore, a number of grants for help with financing internships are available. The exact nature of these is determined in accordance with agreements with the specific awarding bodies.
6. PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
The Masters is aimed at for those wishing to work in the following fields:
- United Nations and other International Agencies, UNHCR, UNDP, WHO, UNICEF, UNICRI,UNESCO
- Organizations of Regional Co-operation and Security, European Union, OSCE, NATO
- Non-Governmental Organizations and Voluntary Associations
- Public Administration and Local Governmental Agencies with activities and projects
in humanitarian assistance, local capacity building and de-centralised co-operation
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Local Government)
- Civic Defence and Relief Agencies
- Public and Private enterprises
- Media
- Armed Forces
7. THE MASTERS IS SUPPORTED BY
Compagnia di San Paolo
Fondazione CRT
Regione Piemonte
Città di Torino
8. THE MASTERS IS RUN IN COLLABORATION WITH
UNSSC
UNESCO
UNICRI
UNDP
NGOs (Italian and International)
“Brigata Alpina Taurinense” (Italian Army)
Carabinieri (Italian Military Police)
Italian Red Cross
Centre of African Studies
9. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
There are a maximum of 25 places available with additional places reserved for members of the Italian Armed Forces (by special agreements with the Italian Army General Staff - Ministry of Defence). A minimum participation of 15 is usually required.
The Masters in Peacekeeping Management is open to those with a recognised Degree (to be evaluated according to Italian University Regulations).
For graduates from Italian Universities the following qualifications are accepted: “Laurea di I livello”, or “Laurea di II livello”, or “Laurea” awarded before DM 509/1999, or a “Diploma Universitario” . Moreover, those students who expect to graduate from an Italian University before to 19th December 2006 are also welcome to make applications.
Advanced English language skills are required.
10. APPLICATION
The closing date for applications is 10th October 2006.
Only those applications submitted in full, with all supporting documentation presented to the Secretariat before this date will be considered. Postal applications received after this date will not be considered, irrespective of the postmark. No late applications will be taken into consideration.
The following documents, written in English, should be submitted in support of the Application Form:
1)Curriculum Vitae
2)An abstract of the final dissertation (maximum 3000 characters)
3)A list of published articles (if applicable)
4)A letter of motivation
5)A letter of reference
6)Certification indicating foreign language capacity (if applicable)
7)Photocopy of an identity document
8)4 Passport size photos
In addition:
1)For candidates who have studied in Italy, a copy of the academic title with an indication of the final mark and exams passed (for final year students a certificate with an indication of exams passed to date).
2)For those candidates who have a foreign degree, a copy of the academic title translated into Italian, “Dichiarazione di Valore” (Declaration of Value) issued by the Italian Embassy of the Country where the degree was obtained from, “Legalizzazione Consolare” issued by the Italian Embassy of the Country where the degree was obtained from.
A specially appointed Selection Board will process applications. Each application will be assessed individually and judged on its own merit. The Board’s decision will be deemed final. The Commission reserves the right to conduct interviews by telephone, as and when be required. The Commission will admit to the Masters 25 candidates who have successfully passed the selection process.
11. ENROLMENT
Thanks to the financial contributions made by the Comune of Torino, the Piemonte Region, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Torino, and of the Compagnia di San Paolo, students’ fees are limited to euro 3.800 (payable in two instalments) including all university taxes, the registration fee, teaching materials and field exercises.
The fees also include:
- Certification of having attended a First Aid Course (Italian Red Cross)
- Certification of having participated in a Field Training Exercise (“Brigata Alpina Taurinense)
The 25 successful candidates will be requested to confirm their intention to participate in the Masters by 10th November 2006. Prior to this date they will need to present to the Masters Secretariat their original documentation and receipts of the payment of the first euro 2.000.
Should any candidate decide not to proceed with their applications, consideration for selection will be given to consecutive candidates on the list.
Candidates who are subsequently accepted will have to confirm and enrol before 20th November 2006. These students will need to present to the Masters Secretariat their original documentation and receipts attesting to the payment of the first euro 2.000, before 20th November.
On enrolling, candidates who have studied in a non European Union country will have to provide the Masters Secretariat with the original certificate of their academic studies.
Before the start of the course, those candidates resident outside the European Community will have to provide the Masters Secretariat with a photocopy of their valid italian Residency permit ("Permesso di soggiorno").
Once the enrolment process is complete, no refund of fees or other payments will be made (even for force majore).
The second instalment of euro 1.800 is due by the 12th March 2007.
12. SCHOLARSHIPS
There are a number of scholarships, grants and bursaries available in order to encourage as wide a range as possible of candidates. Terms and conditions are determined in accordance with agreements with the awarding bodies.
[sursa e-nass]
