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Published on September 2, 2007

The answer is "Absolutely yes" if you happen to be asking Georges Tsai, vice rector of the UN University of Peace in Costa Rica. He is convinced that if the younger generation is more tolerant of divergent views and at the same time willing to learn how to accept these differences and coexist peacefully, then conflicts can be avoided or made less frequent.

"It is a long-term investment of patience in peace-building," said Tsai, a former senior Canadian government official on ethics.

It is that ambition that the UN institution was created in 1980 to impart, to embed knowledge and understanding of how to instil a culture of peace and live in peace and lessen obstacles and threats to world peace and progress. The University of Peace (Upeace) is pursuing these objectives in its 10 master's degree programmes in peace studies.

"These programmes are taught with a multicultural-oriented setting and approach. Students also learn from each other," Tsai said.

Although the university was set up under the UN charter, it is not subject to UN regulation but directed by its own 14-member council of experts in peace and security.

The subjects include international law and dispute settlement, international law and human rights, natural resources and peace, environmental security and peace, gender and peace-building, peace education, media, and conflict and peace studies.

The courses are taught by prominent professors around the world in face-to-face classes and via teleconferences. Upeace also has campuses in Washington DC, Manila and Addis Ababa with liaison offices in Geneva.

Tsai said the world today needed educators and students who understood conflict issues.

"For instance, non-governmental officials, who are often in conflict areas, must know to handle these difficult situations to work effectively," he said.

Tsai said he hoped that once he had 300 graduates he would be able to create international networks and focus on regional programmes. At the same time, Upeace wants to attract more students from our own region. For the next academic years, four Thai students have applied to the university. Other applications come from Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines and China.

Students from around the world have applied to study in the MA programme. The chosen will be those with experience and genuine interest in helping people. This academic year 150 students from 50 countries are enrolled.

Funding of Upeace comes from governments, foundations and institutions that believe in its mission. Leading donors are Canada, Switzerland, Sweden and the Nippon Foundation.

Kavi Chongkittavorn

The Nation