http://www.tauac.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5679
Tel Aviv University and East Jerusalem’s Al-Quds University have announced a new graduate-level conflict resolution program at Al-Quds University and a student and faculty exchange between both universities. Establishment of the new program is being coordinated by Prof. Ephraim Ya’ar, director of the Evens Program in Conflict Resolution and Mediation at TAU, and Prof. Sari Nusseibeh, president of Al-Quds University in Jerusalem. Nusseibeh has nominated the dean of graduate studies at Al-Quds to oversee the project. First proposed in talks between the two universities six months ago, the collaboration is expected to give students from both universities the skills to address conflict beyond the Arab-Israeli divide. It will be based on the established Evens Program launched at TAU four years ago. As part of the proposed plan between the universities, a program in conflict resolution and mediation will be established at Al-Quds. This new initiative will be different than any other program existing in Israel. Students will learn from each other – from both sides of the divide – and inter-ethnic issues such as Israeli-Arab affairs will be addressed, but will not be the only focus. “The idea of cooperation between Tel Aviv University and Al-Quds University is the integral part – to have a mutual exchange of students, faculty and academic ideas,” says Ya’ar, founder of TAU’s highly-acclaimed Peace Index, an influential public opinion poll in Israel. The Evens Program offers graduate level studies taught by a diverse range of specialists such as political scientists, legal experts and social workers. The multidisciplinary program recognizes the notion that conflict is more than just about disputing nations: it is both a local and international issue. The Evens Program at TAU is funded by a donation from the Olivestone philanthropic organization, founded by Corrine Evens of France. Concerned with encouraging dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, Mrs. Evens met with Ya’ar earlier in 2007 and expressed an interest in developing a similar project for Palestinian students. Ya’ar took advantage of a good working relationship with Nusseibeh, and the idea of working with Al-Quds University was born. |
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