(Washington) – The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) announced today that it has partnered with the Future Generations Graduate School in developing an accredited Masters in Applied Community Change with a Concentration in Peacebuilding. The program was formally authorized on March 26th by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities.

 

The program builds the skills and capacity of mid-career community leaders. Instead of relocating to a campus, students remain in their own countries and continue serving their communities throughout the two-year program. It blends three instructional modes: on-site field residentials for one month each term, online learning, and an applied practicum (thesis) project in each student’s community.  The first residential began on February 27th in Mumbai, India.  Classes included Introduction to Peacebuilding, Social Change and Peacebuilding and Empowerment, taught by USIP and Future Generations faculty.  After moving to Sevagram, classes integrated material from Mahatma Gandhi's life and teachings.

 

The Masters program expands the work of USIP's Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. Established in 2009, the Academy provides practitioner-oriented education, training, and resources at USIP's Washington headquarters, mobile training in conflict zones abroad, and online distance education and training.

 

"The Institute is excited to partner with Future Generations in providing advanced education and training to already active citizens from around the world," stated Pamela Aall, provost of the USIP Academy. "Through its Academy and programs like this, the Institute is able to share its nearly 30 years of conflict management experience and increase the capacity of local peacebuilders."   

 

The relationship with USIP is mutually beneficial.  “We are equally enthusiastic about bringing USIP’s peacebuilding expertise to bear on development problems at the community level,” stated Mike Rechlin, Dean of the Graduate School.  

 

The Masters program is named after peace philanthropist Kathryn W. Davis whose generous grant made possible the program in Applied Community Change with a concentration in peacebuilding with scholarships for the first class of students.

 

The Future Generations Graduate School, a 501(c)3 non-profit institution of higher education, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. The Graduate School was founded in 2003 as the educational arm of Future Generations, whose mission is “to teach and enable a process of equitable community change.”

 

The United States Institute of Peace is the independent, nonpartisan conflict management center created by Congress to prevent and mitigate international conflict through non-violent means. USIP works to save lives, increase the government’s ability to deal with conflicts before they escalate, reduce government costs, and enhance national security.