International Institute on Peace Education 2008

Dates: July 28 - August 4, 2008
Application Deadline: March 1, 2008
Location: Haifa, Israel
Website: www.tc.edu/PeaceEd/iipe

“Critical Pedagogy: Educating for Justice and Peace”

The International Institute on Peace Education (IIPE) 2008 will take place from July 28 to August 4 in Haifa, Israel hosted by the Jewish-Arab Center and the Center for Research on Peace Education (CERPE) of the University of Haifa and the Center of Critical Pedagogy of Kibbutzim College of Education. The event is being co-organized by the above hosts and the Peace Education Center at Teachers College, Columbia University in partnership with Global Education Associates.  

IIPE was founded in 1982 by Dr. Betty Reardon and faculty colleagues at Teachers College and has been held annually in different parts of the world. The IIPE is not a traditional conference but rather a “learning community” in which the organizers and participants work together to nurture an inclusive, highly interactive learning environment.  It is an intensive multicultural and cooperative learning opportunity in which participants 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.   

IIPE 2008 THEME: Critical Pedagogy: Educating for Justice and Peace 

IIPE 2008 will explore the theme of “Critical Pedagogy: Educating for Justice and Peace."  It will deal with issues of dialogical education for social change and the intersection of peace education and critical pedagogy, relating to the question of what kind of peaceful society we are striving for. Peace Education in Israel has concentrated mostly on the Jewish-Arab conflict. Various names describe it: education for co-existence, Jewish-Arab encounter, dialogical groups, neighbors, living with the other, etc. In groups where Palestinians and Israelis sit together and discuss their relationships the historical narratives are often learned. In other parts of the world, however, peace education is called by different names according to the political constraints of the region. 

This year's IIPE will try to examine the complexity of peace education issues in an unequal society. It will strive to explore goals of equal education, schooling despite the pressure of violent conflict, economic justice, the challenges of environmental violence, structural violence, and ties of politics and education.  The IIPE core inquiry will focus on the concept of education for a culture of peace and the social change needed to achieve it. We will seek to examine the link between local-regional problems, global issues, and universal developments, and look for ways to address them in education.  Relevant sub-themes include the relationship between social violence and armed conflicts; issues in education that most affect marginalized populations such as the poor, women, migrant workers, and people with disabilities; the need to raise awareness of global environmental justice issues, small arms control, nuclear threats, poverty, first–third world power relations and the global campaign against sex trafficking.   Thus, the upcoming IIPE will explore innovative ways and educational strategies to enhance social critical consciousness and methods of activism through education.

We encourage each applicant to consider how they might contribute to this exploration from their own experience regionally, as a formal or informal educator, or as an advocate or activist (see application form).  Together, we hope to illuminate the gaps and complementarities of peace education and critical pedagogy.   

For more information and to apply please visit the IIPE website at:

www.tc.edu/PeaceEd/IIPE

Participation Fees

This year’s participation fees are still being determined.   Participation fees are estimated between 400-550 Euros ($575-800 USD).  Organizers are presently fundraising and in other ways working to reduce overall costs.  The final participation fees will be determined before the close of the application period (March 1).  Participation fees cover all onsite costs including food, housing (double occupancy), local transportation and excursions. 

Application Information

We ask all potential participants to please apply online via the IIPE website: www.tc.edu/PeaceEd/iipe. Applications must be submitted by March 1, 2008 for full consideration.   Notices of acceptances will be sent in mid to late March.  If you require an earlier response for funding or institutional purposes please contact the IIPE secretariat at info@i-i-p-e.org. 

Acceptance for participation in the IIPE is based upon applicant’s potential contribution to the goal of developing and strengthening peace education and critical pedagogy in the host region and toward a more global perspective on peace education among all participants. While we would like to accept everyone who applies, the number of applicants usually exceeds the places at each institute. 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 of us can learn from each other. We have found that increasing our numbers beyond 70 participants diminishes the effectiveness of this aspect of the institute, so we are unable to accept all applicants. 

Among other criteria, first priority is given to those applicants coming from the surrounding host region. The IIPE attempts to explore themes and issues that are particularly relevant to the host region and works to build regional solidarity among peace educators. Thus, a minimum of 50% of the participants will come from the Mediterranean region. In selecting the remainder of the international participants we attempt to maintain a geographical balance and variety in experience and substantive expertise. All applicants should specifically demonstrate how they will apply their peace education and critical pedagogy learnings in their countries or local communities as that will be a significant criteria of selection. 

As a learning community experience the IIPE requires full-time participation from all participants. You must be able to participate in the full period of the IIPE (July 28-August 4) for your application to be considered. If after acceptance a participant finds he or she must leave early or arrive late, their place will be given to another on the waiting list. 

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. Each year numerous applicants request various amounts of scholarship support and the IIPE seeks to raise a scholarship fund for participants coming from currency poor or post-conflict countries.  Scholarships are typically not provided for participants applying from the US or Western Europe.  Scholarships come only in the form of participation fee waivers.  The IIPE does not provide financial support for travel to and from the institute.  If you think you will be in need of scholarship please indicate so when applying.