evaluating international academic programming
TRANSCRIPT
Cornwallis XVIII: Analysis for Evaluation and Assessment
Evaluating International Academic Programming:
The United Nations University for Peace (UPEACE) Experience in South
Asia, the Middle East, and Africa
Allison M. Frendak-Blume, Ph.D. April 16, 2013
Background
• The United Nations University for Peace (UPEACE) – Costa Rica
• The International Institutes Cooperation Programme – an education program of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Development Cooperation
• George Mason University’s Peace Operations Policy Program – US (Arlington, Va.)
Background
• “Peace and conflict studies” – distinct academic discipline developing in universities since the early 1960s
• Need to understand violence better and address conflict situations at national and international levels
• Despite this need being felt in the South, only a few institutions had developed academic programs by mid-2000s
Background
• Northern universities tried to bridge gap but limitations – students, curricula
• Southern universities with developed programs needed support – faculty development, extending reach
• UPEACE wished to collaborate with universities in South Asia, the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, and Africa’s Great Lakes Region to establish/strengthen their capacities to deliver academic programs and graduate courses in the field of peace and conflict studies responding to their respective regional and national needs (2008-12)
UPEACE PROGRAM IN SOUTH ASIA, AFRICA AND THE
MIDDLE EAST (UPSAM)
UPSAM
SOUTH ASIA •Bangladesh: Dhaka University
•India: Islamic Institute for Science and
Technology; Banaras Hindu University
•Indonesia: Gadja Mada University
•Nepal: Tribhuvan University
•Pakistan: University of Karachi
•Sri Lanka: University of Colombo
MIDDLE EAST •Egypt: The Institute for Peace Studies
•Iraq: University of Dohuk
•Jordon: The Hashemite University
AFRICA
•Ethiopia: Addis Ababa University
•Kenya: University of Nairobi
•Somalia: University of Hargeisa
•Sudan: Ahfad University for Women;
University of Zalingei; University of Juba
- 13 Countries
- 16 Universities and Institutes 2008-2010
GREAT LAKES PROGRAM (GLP)
Burundi University of Burundi
Congo, Democratic Republic of Catholic University of Bukavu Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs
Kenya Catholic University of Eastern Africa
Rwanda National University of Rwanda Rwanda Peace Academy
Tanzania University of Dar es Salaam
Uganda Uganda Martyrs University Gulu University
Zambia Copperbelt University
GLP - 7 Countries
- 10 Universities and Institutes 2010-2012
Programming
• Curriculum development workshops • Junior faculty (degree/curricula) • Senior faculty (curricula/co-teach) • Networking
Methods (UPSAM/GLP)
• Interviews • Surveys • Focus groups • Observation • Participant-Observation • Review of documents
Five reports generated/discussed
Discussion (UPSAM/GLP)
• Selection of partner universities
• Selection of junior faculty participants
• Junior faculty language skills improvement
• Junior faculty curriculum development
• Senior faculty participation
• Networking
Partner Selection
UPSAM Partner Selection
1) University’s interest to develop programs*/current ability to fully implement once they received UPEACE training
2) Presence of conflict situations making it imperative to train leaders in conflict prevention
GLP Partner Selection
1) University’s interest to develop programs*/current ability to fully implement once they received UPEACE training
2) Presence of conflict situations making it imperative to train leaders in conflict prevention
Recognition UPSAM might have been too large conceptually – GLP regional perspective
Rwanda Peace Academy
Junior Faculty Selection
UPSAM Junior Faculty
• Junior faculty – 33 to receive full scholarship to UPEACE (8 degrees offered, one per university each 2008-09 and 2009-10 academic year)
• Syllabi developed for 3 classes – instead of thesis – from outline created at MCDW – gender, IL/HRs, peace education, media, IR, political science, environmental science
• Pedagogy/teaching components added to prepare them to teach back home
UPSAM Junior Faculty Selection
• Competitive, advertised, candidates undergo regular UPEACE admission process
• Criteria – academic qualifications, working experience, English-language skills, motivation, envisaged output, clear vision of future academic involvement in peace and conflict studies (individually and member of partner university)
UPSAM Selection Reality
• Interviews with 1st UPSAM cohort (10/08) – 13/16 nominated non-competitively
• Interviews with 2nd UPSAM cohort (1/10) – 10/15 nominated non-competitively
• Positive aspect – in most cases upper range of qualification for work at UPEACE in both cohorts
• Gender imbalance
GLP Junior Faculty
• Junior faculty – 40 to receive full scholarship to UPEACE (two per university each 2010-11 and 2011-12 academic year; academic and civil society)
• Admissions and pedagogy/teaching components same as UPSAM
• Syllabi developed for 2 classes from outline created at initial workshops
GLP Selection Reality
• 1st GLP cohort – 16/19 nominated non-competitively; 2nd GLP cohort – 15/21 nominated non-competitively
• Positive aspect – emphasis on gender correction through 2nd cohort results in 18 women overall
• Negative aspects - many women civil society; Gulu outside university procedure; Rwanda and Burundi tribal biases
Junior Faculty Language Skills
UPSAM Language Skills • Interviews with 1st UPSAM cohort (10/08) –
some exceptions made by admissions and students enrolled in tutoring/special instruction at UPEACE to increase competence
• Interviews with 2nd UPSAM cohort (1/10) – language tutor hired by UPEACE – 8/15 used services individually at least once
• Darfur most affected (both cohorts)
All seemed to have working ability to speak English – editor hired to correct curricula
GLP Language Skills
• English-language support provided before arrival in Costa Rica to total of 17 Francophone and 1 Anglophone junior fellows
• All except one seemed to have working ability to speak English
• Language tutor still available at UPEACE • Editor retained to correct curricula
Junior Faculty Curriculum
Development
UPSAM Curricula • 1st UPSAM cohort: half unaware of
requirement for program when arrived; half interviewed in 10/08 did not expect collaboration with home institutions; “left to the end”
• 2nd UPSAM cohort: only one unaware; only 2/15 interviewed in 1/10 not working with someone at home; time devoted in August so could start plus 3-week curriculum development course in January break
Less than half UPSAM juniors completed curricula
GLP Curricula • 1st GLP cohort: all aware of requirement when
arrived; had worked with seniors during prep workshop; when interviewed in 11/11 indicated 3-week curriculum development workshop in January “too late”
• 2nd GLP cohort: all aware and worked with seniors; received 1-week curriculum development training before arrival and 3-week course in January break
37/40 GLP juniors completed their curricula
Senior Faculty Participation
UPSAM Senior Faculty Participation
• Assist the mid-level and senior faculty members from partner universities at home – co-teach/training-of-trainer teaching
• Two required courses – “Foundation Course in Peace and Conflict Studies” and “Practices of Peace and Conflict Management”
• Ensure senior faculty then develop – “Research Methods” and “Multiculturalism in Conflict and Peace” courses
• The 4 courses represent common denominators across several graduate programs in peace and conflict studies worldwide
UPSAM Participation Reality
• Early on observed participation issues – lack of names for co-teaching
• By one-year evaluation (summer 2009) noted 3/10 co-teaching events performed without substantial partner involvement
• Scheduling issues, relevancy, inappropriate
GLP Senior Faculty
• Senior “fellowships” – 20 senior faculty members to attend 3-week program at UPEACE; expose to new teaching methodologies and peace/conflict theories/research; improve links with juniors; develop a 3-credit course for later co-teaching with a UPEACE faculty member
• Course developed based on need of institution
GLP Participation Reality
• 18 seniors participated in fellowship
• At least two co-teaching events performed in 9/10 institutions by time of final evaluation (summer 2012); 21 total 3-credit courses plus additional seminars/workshops
• Rwanda Peace Academy – leadership involved in military responsibilities so no fellows or co-teaching
Networking
UPSAM Networking
• Masters Curriculum Development Workshops (spring 2008)
• A pan-regional conference organized at conclusion of UPSAM (summer 2010) for partner universities to share best practices, build a network, and create new partnerships
• Sustainable implementation of the newly developed masters programs would be important topic of the conference
UPSAM Networking Realities
• MCDWs introduced people but no follow-up discerned by one-year review; GMU recommended development of newsletter and participant lists
• Visits to 6 partner universities summer 2009 revealed regional partnering “almost nonexistent”; GMU more time and resources needed here, suggests use one institution within each region as anchor for a smaller network
UPSAM Networking Realities
• Pan-regional workshop (summer 2010): regions developed future plans for concrete networking but unable to report out due to time pressure – no articulation of them together with valuable cross-regional inputs
• Time issue due to UPEACE revisiting pedagogy
• Felt “important business” was “left undone”
GLP Networking • Workshops used for brainstorming ideas and
strategies; “Peace Book”*; cultural events
• Weaving Peace (2012)
• “Peace Caravan”*
• Bilateral partnerships – co-teaching, advising
• Great Lakes Universities Peace Association (GLUPA)*
Much energy—inability to translate personal commitment to institutional one; most do not make use of juniors; rifts 2nd cohort juniors
QUESTIONS?