INTERNATIONAL SUMMER UNIVERSITY FOR INTERCULTURAL

INTERNATIONAL SUMMER UNIVERSITY FOR
INTERCULTURAL LEADERSHIP
JUNE 29 – JULY 12, 2014 / FREIE UNIVERSITÄT BERLIN
In 2013, the Aladdin Project launched the International Summer University for Intercultural Leadership, an annual
program placed under the patronage of UNESCO and the European Parliament which aims to bring together students
from Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the United States, for two weeks every summer, in order to develop
their intercultural skills and give them the opportunity to study key issues in international affairs with other students
from diverse cultural, religious and ethnic background.
The first summer University took place at Bahçesehir University in Istanbul in July 2013 and gathered 53 students
from 16 partner universities to study the causes of wars and genocides in the 20th Century and learn from the
processes of peace and reconciliation between France and Germany which laid the foundation of the European
Union.
In 2014, the program will take place in Berlin from June 29 to July 12, 2014, on the theme “Peace and Religion in the
21st century” and will enable participants to follow series of lectures from renowned university professors. Through
working groups, joint research projects and group activities, the program will also enable students to develop their
communication, listening and interaction skills with people of different cultures.
“PEACE AND RELIGION IN THE 21ST CENTURY”
Historical perspectives on religion increasingly perceive its role over time as leading to violence, conflict, rejection and
racism and debates about religion have often concentrated on the relationship between religion and state. But
religion is becoming an increasingly influential transnational political force, and is extending tensions and conflicts on
a global scale, among states and among religions themselves. Paradoxically, religion as a transnational force is also at
the core of conflict resolution and peace building. Historically, religions have often played the role of peacemakers.
On a global scale, the evolution of contemporary conflicts has encouraged more and more international organizations
to focus on “interfaith and intercultural dialogue” as a strategy aimed at resolving conflicts between and within states
and civil societies confronted with religious tensions.
The second summer university proposes to analyze the issue of Peace and religion from various perspectives and will
invite leading scholars in the field to deliver lectures and conduct workshops on topics relevant to this theme.
PROGRAM DETAILS
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Date & duration
PARTNER UNIVERSITIES IN 2013
This is a two week-course from June 29 to July 12, 2014
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Theme of the course:
“Peace and religion in the 21 century”
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Location :
Freie Universität Berlin (Germany)
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Tuition :
Tuition fees, social programs and accommodation are
covered by the organizers
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Deadline for application:
March 31 , 2014
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Who can participate ?:
Third year undergraduate or Master’s students
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Ain Shams University (Egypt)
Al Quds University (Palestinian Authority)
Bahçesehir University of Istanbul (Turkey)
Bogazici University (Turkey)
Florida International University (USA)
Freie Universität Berlin (Germany)
Georges Washington University (USA)
Graduate Institute of Geneva (Switzerland)
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Mohamed V University (Morocco)
New York University (USA)
Sciences Po Paris (France)
SOAS / University of London (UK)
Tel Aviv University (Israel)
University of Dakar (Senegal)
University of Tunis (Tunisia)
& others …
WHAT ALUMNI SAID
PROGRAM CONTENT
- “We often think we have more differences than similarities with
other people, but I learned first-hand that’s not the
case…Programs like this teach people to break barriers and get
past the “us” and “them” mentality”
The course is designed for students who already have a background or a
strong interest in the following disciplines (social science, political science,
international relations, sociology, international law, anthropology, peace
and conflict studies). Lectures and workshops will be conducted in English
by professors and academics who will come from each partner university.
- “To the contrary of what I thought, meeting new people only
made me more interested to know them better and made me
understand that there are no real differences between us all”
- “I learnt most from the group research project in which I believe to
have developed strong teamwork and intercultural skills. This
project taught me how to work in a multi-cultural environment
where the students had various cultures and academic
background”
The program includes
MORNING LECTURES
- Religion and Peace in a spiritual and historical perspective
- Religious leaders and their approach to peace building
- Religious pluralism and conflict within democratic states
- Religion and related issues (human rights, women, ecology)
- International organizations in relation to religion and peace
- Religion & conflict resolution
- “Discussions and workshop sessions helped me discover totally
new alternative viewpoints to look at particular things such as
conflict between states, ethnicities, religions”
AFTERNOON WORKSHOP AND VISITS
- In depth and small group research / study of selected issues addressed
during morning lectures
- Visits of Berlin
- A range of extra-curricular activities (exhibition)
CERTIFICATE
RESEARCH PROJECT
Students will be equally divided into groups reflecting different countries
and cultural backgrounds, to work together on a common research project.
Each group will have to present a draft plan by the end of the summer
university. Final research projects are to be completed after the two week
program and submitted to an international panel of academics in October
2014.
Participants who take part in the program will receive certificates
from the Aladdin Project and the organizing institutions
APPLICATION
A pre-selection is made directly by each partner university which will then
send the application documents to the Aladdin Project.
Students who wish to apply must be senior Bachelor students (third year
undergraduate) or Master students, preparing a degree in one of the
following partner universities.
Application must include
A curriculum vitae
A letter of reference and / or a cover letter
Deadline for application:
March 31st, 2014
The Aladdin Project is an international organization based in Paris and
created in 2009 under the auspices of UNESCO to promote intercultural
relations, to prevent conflicts through a better knowledge of History and
its teachings, to bring together world leaders and international institutions
against Holocaust denial, anti-Semitism and all forms of racism, and to
enhance mutual knowledge through the production, translation and
propagation of books, films, documentaries, websites and other sources of
information. More information on: http://projetaladin.org/en