Ma g. Evelyn Zach A - 85 23 Frauental, Oberer Bahnweg 7 +43 (0) 69912733778 evi–z@gmx.at
IIMCR International Institute for Mediation and Conflict Resolution; International Student Symposium on Negotiation and Conflict Resolution; July 19th – August 16th, 2003; The Hague, The Netherlands
The Institute for International Mediation and Conflict Resolution (IIMCR), in conjunction with Erasmus University Rotterdam and The Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, organised the 8th annual International Student Symposium on Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. The Symposium took place between July 19th - August 16th, 2003 in The Hague, The Netherlands. The International Student Symposium on Negotiation and Conflict Resolution took place in an environment where participants from around the world met, studied with and got to know each other. This was an opportunity for me to form lasting friendships and have experiences that will shape my live. The majority of time during the Symposium was spent in The Hague, the seat of the Dutch government and home to the International Court of Justice, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and seventy embassies . The Hague is also home to beautiful beaches, which are a five minute walk from the student dormitories. I called IIMCR and requested an application and more information about the Symposium. As soon as I read about the interesting mix of lecturers and trainers that would be at the Symposium and the topics which they would be covering, as well as the diverse student body, I knew that the program was for me. I couldn’t believe that there was really a program out there that addressed all of these topics about which I was so anxious to learn.
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Ma g. Evelyn Zach A - 85 23 Frauental, Oberer Bahnweg 7 +43 (0) 69912733778 evi–z@gmx.at
The course was divided into four parts. The first section explored the nature and sources of conflict and sensitized the participants to the possibilities for preventing violent conflict. Students were taught the substantive backgrounds of various current conflict areas around the world. In the second section, the fundamental theories and tools of integrative negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution were taught by experienced academics and trainers. The students were given an analytical framework for looking at conflict, which they refined through extensive role-playing and other exercises based on the kinds of experiences to which these students were likely to relate to. Drawing on history, geography, political science and economics, the third portion of the course was intended as an adaptable module that can be staged as a general world survey or a customized package aimed at the concerns of a specific region. The fourth section combined the basic skills taught in the second section and the substantive material in the first and third, staging more sophisticated simulations geared to the conflict areas being studied. Students successfully completing the course should receive the following credits: Track I and Track II: (indicating 200 hours spent in lectures, practicals, independent study, preparation for examinations and examinations) 9 Credits (ETCS).
The month that I spent as a participant of the International Student Symposium on Negotiation and Conflict Resolution was indeed an experience that proved worthwhile for me. The student body was diverse in age, nationality, socio-economic background, race and in just about every other way you can imagine. We did all have something in common, however. We were all young people with an interest in resolving conflict, whether that was in our own homes, local communities or in the world at large. In the month that we were in Europe, we learned about each other’s backgrounds, visions for the future, and everything in between. I learned volumes from my fellow students…and then there was the curriculum itself. Practitioners spoke with us about their personal experiences in negotiations and diplomacy. I remember most vividly a lecture by General Romeo Dallaire, who spoke
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Ma g. Evelyn Zach A - 85 23 Frauental, Oberer Bahnweg 7 +43 (0) 69912733778 evi–z@gmx.at
about his involvement in the genocide in Rwanda. He spoke about the individuals involved on all sides of the peace negotiations and openly discussed his own failures and successes as a diplomat. Trainers taught us about the tools that would enable us to negotiate with skill and credibility. Joyce Neu, of the Carter Centre, addressed the role of cross-cultural communication in interpersonal and international negotiation. The exciting part, though, was that she didn’t just lecture to the crowd. She engaged us all in activities and simulations that brought the issue to life. I was finally in the presence of people who could give me information and advice on the very issues about which I was so curious! The Academic Coordinator gave us readings and assignments which introduced the theory and application of Conflict Resolution and Negotiation methods. I was assigned to do a research project on South Africa. I had known almost nothing about South Africa before the program, and certainly had no understanding of the conflict dynamics and the many actors involved. I did research on my own, but more significantly, I was able to talk with a fellow participant who was from South Africa and get first-hand insight. In short, I learned a lot in a brief period of time. I worked hard, but I played hard, too. While the days were spent in lectures, training sessions and working on academic assignments, I spent the evenings doing a little bit of studying and then relaxing with my new-found friends at the beach with a glass of Heinecken. I spent the weekends on the beaches of Scheveningen or travelling to nearby attractions and I visited Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Delft. When graduation day rolled around, I was saddened at the thought of leaving my friends, but excited about everything that I had learned and eager to apply my experiences at the Symposium to my future. I realized, however, that the good-byes would only be temporary because the friendships I had made were lasting.
My life has changed, and improved, by participating in the Symposium. It is a unique program in that it offers its participants the opportunity to learn about Conflict Resolution and Negotiation from those who have been involved in every aspect of International Affairs. Additionally, the program allows you the opportunity to engage
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Ma g. Evelyn Zach A - 85 23 Frauental, Oberer Bahnweg 7 +43 (0) 69912733778 evi–z@gmx.at
in simulations and activities which will prepare you well for the day when you are sitting at the negotiating table representing your interests or those of your client or government. If you are considering a career in Conflict Resolution or Negotiation, this program can provide you with information about the opportunities that exist and the barriers and rewards associated with such a career. If you’re not sure where you are headed on the career path, this course and the people involved will provide you with direction. And if you plan a career in a very unrelated field, you will come to recognize that learning how to negotiate effectively and how to identify the roots and possible solutions of a conflict are skills that are important in every career and in every individual’s life. I hope you will seriously consider the program for yourself. It is, more than anything else, an experience which you will never forget!
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