The free CAPAZ online course kicks off!
At 5:00pm to 7:00pm on Monday January 24, the students on the online course “Management of Research Cooperation Projects on Conflict and Peace Issues” met for the first time for their first class of the course.
Initially, there were 30 places for students interested in taking the course. However, having received more than 300 applications, 40 people were selected to meet each other and to listen to the introductory words of the CAPAZ Academic Director, Prof. Dr. Stefan Peters and the Administrative Director, Dr. Carlos Nupia. The course coordination team comprising Laura Acosta, Rafael Quishpe, María Paula Rodríguez, Laura Valencia and Santiago Arias also introduced themselves and made some recommendations for the smooth running of the course.
The first class
Following the coordinators’ welcoming remarks, the students were given an insight into the modules and the general structure of the course, which will consist of the following thematic modules:
- Introduction to international academic cooperation on peace and conflict issues.
- Context: Fundamental issues for peacebuilding in Colombia.
- Cooperation and management in the practice of CAPAZ’ cross-cutting projects.
- International academic networking and cooperation management skills.
Each of these will be taught by different CAPAZ employees and academic partners.
Later on, the students had the opportunity to introduce themselves and get to know each other. The profiles of the people taking the course are as varied as the range of projects on peace issues that can be implemented. They include managers, graduate students, political scientists, lawyers, professors, academics, and administrative staff from different organisations.
Among them, some are currently working or studying at universities including Universidad del Rosario, the Peace Chair at Universidad de los Andes, Universidad Santo Tomás, Universidad de Antioquia, and Universidad de Salamanca. Some also work in organisations working on peace-related issues, such as UNDP, Fundación Ideas para la Paz, the Danish Refugee Council, Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Feminist Coalition for Climate Justice, among others.
The course
The course has a clear pedagogical methodology, based on horizontal learning. This means that the idea is for students to participate actively and that in this exchange of ideas and experiences, reflections arise on topics such as, for example, what cooperation is, how it can be applied to peace projects at national and international level, etc.
Thus, students will not only be able to talk about their experiences, but the teachers will also have the opportunity to share five years of CAPAZ experiences in peacebuilding in Colombia. For example, the tutors will talk about the creation and implementation of projects such as ColombiaCONNECT, Education and Science Diplomacy, CAPAZ editorial publications, the work we have conducted with former combatants, among other projects linked to the Institute.
Interactive resources
In addition, and being aware of the need to use the tools that virtuality has given us over the years, we have created a website designed to create and strengthen networks among students, and to generate a clear, practical, and secure communication channel.
This is not only interactive, but also closed, i.e., it is a safe space in which to discuss, exchange ideas, and build bridges between projects and concepts. This is where students can check the course schedule, read about their teachers, introduce themselves and their projects, and download extra learning material.
