INCORE (International Conflict Research Institute) at the University of Ulster wishes to invite you to the 14th International Summer School. The International Summer School will run from 17th-21st June 2013 at the historic Magee Campus in the city of Derry-Londonderry, on the shores of Lough Foyle in the north west of Northern Ireland, easily accessible by road, rail and air. This year's Summer School will also coincide with events celebrating Derry-Londonderry as the UK City of Culture.

The INCORE Summer School provides a structured learning opportunity to analyse the dynamic and constantly changing field of conflict transformation and peacebuilding. Focusing on the latest research and concepts in peace and conflict studies and practice; participants are invited to compare, contrast and learn from different perspectives. The School offers a unique opportunity to create links between theory, practice and policy. Special attention is given to how the experience and research of both practitioners and academics can impact upon policy makers within the field of conflict transformation, peacemaking, peacebuilding and reconciliation.

This year we are offering three courses to choose from:

• Culture and Peacebuilding

  Derry-Londonderry is the 2013 UK City of Culture. As a contribution to this INCORE will offer a new module on Culture and Peacebuilding as part of its Summer School during this year. The module begins with a general overview of the relationships between culture and peace, and an investigation of some key theories in this field. Each subsequent day will be devoted to the contributions made by the following to peacebuilding: drama, sport and the moving image. The module will focus on experiential learning and use a range of contributors including academics and practitioners from Northern Ireland. Participants will also have an opportunity to make presentations about their own work or that of their organizations. The course will be facilitated by Professor Brandon Hamber and Dr. Stephen Ryan (INCORE).

• Peacemaking and Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland

  This module is aimed specifically at undergraduates or individuals interested in exploring the lessons from Northern Ireland in terms of peacemaking and peacebuilding. Through a series of lectures and workshops with INCORE staff and invited speakers participants will be able to examine some of the key themes and issues for themselves. The subject matter to be covered will include an introduction to conflict transformation and peacebuilding theory; peacemaking and the new political disposition in Northern Ireland; justice, truth and reconciliation; victims, survivors and commemoration; and public opinion and attitudinal change in Northern Ireland. The course will be facilitated by Professor Gillian Robinson and Dr. Brendan Lynn (INCORE).

• Evaluation in Conflict Prone Settings

  This course seeks to attract early to mid-level professionals who are facing evaluation challenges in conflict prone settings and are involved in commissioning, managing, or conducting evaluations in a programming or policy-making capacity. The focus of the course is not limited to 'peacebuilding initiatives', but to the broadest spectrum of projects and programmes (development, humanitarian, private sector, community development, etc.), with a view to integrating conflict sensitivity principles into evaluation practice. Using a combination of case studies, role plays, group work, presentations, and electronic media, the course content aims to build a range of evaluation knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to understand the practical, methodological, ethical, and political challenges of use-oriented evaluation in conflict-prone settings.The course will be facilitated by Dr Kenneth Bush (INCORE) and Colleen Duggan (IDRC, TBC).

Alongside these courses we also run a Northern Ireland programme to provide all participants with an opportunity to network with others, gaining a deeper insight into the causes and consequences of the conflict in Northern Ireland. Guest speakers from a range sectors will provide inputs. In the middle of the week the Annual INCORE Summer School lecture is also held featuring a prominent speaker in Northern Ireland. The closing dinner on the Friday includes Special Guest Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, John Hume.

Participants will also be able to benefit from City of Culture events.

The INCORE Summer School is suited to a range of individuals, including practitioners, academics, researchers and students alike. Applicants are expected to be educated to a minimum of degree level in a relevant subject area (except for the Peacemaking and Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland module where those currently undertaking undergraduate or certificate studies in the peace and conflict area or social/political/international studies is sufficient); and/or to have relevant work experience in a peace and conflict related area. All applications are subject to selection on the basis of suitability for the module applied for.

Previous participants of the INCORE Summer School have included USAID, European Union DG External Relations, UK Department for International Development, World Food Programme, UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and others.

The INCORE Summer School is recognised by the Peace Operations Training Institute, and may form part of The Certificate-of-Training In Peace Support Operations (COTIPSO) Programme. Visit http://www.peaceopstraining.org for further details.

This event is furthermore co-sponsored by the Sustainable Peace Building Programme of the European Commission's Marie Curie Actions.

Applications are online and more information can be obtained here.

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