NOW CLOSED
Call for Expression of Interest to Host an ICNC Academic Seminar in 2016
Faculty and representatives of academic institutions (e.g. administrators, graduate or doctoral students) are invited to submit a proposal to host an ICNC academic seminar in 2016 on civil resistance at their respective academic programs, departments and universities.
The goal of ICNC academic seminars is to promote study, research and teaching in the growing field of civil resistance. We are particularly interested in reaching out to universities and colleges in areas or regions that experience social contention, ongoing transitions, or where operating space for civil society is increasingly being restricted. We do not organize seminars at academic institutions that are located directly in embattled areas.
ICNC views its seminars as an important educational instrument to advance knowledge about nonviolent conflict in general, and in particular, civil resistance studies as a self-standing scholarly discipline that is distinct and independent from the existing schools of academic inquiry. Seminars are offered in English but host universities may arrange for simultaneous interpretation at their own expense.
Over the past five years, ICNC has organized close to 30 academic seminars at various institutions of higher education around the world. For a full list of the ICNC academic seminars, click here.
Objectives of ICNC Academic Seminars
- Help host universities develop courses, academic modules and self-standing coursework on civil resistance and integrate them into departmental teaching
- Incorporate civil resistance teaching components into departmental programs and foreign study programs
- Encourage academic writing on civil resistance as part of students’ graded work
- Develop individual and departmental research and writing on civil resistance, including strengthening departmental capacity in terms of scholars conducting research on civil resistance and integrating civil resistance studies into specializations of the department’s faculty
- Assist departments in building a program or concentration in civil resistance
- Encourage cooperation between departments and organizations within a host university and cooperation between university departments in the same region to launch collaborative work on topics of civil resistance
- Encourage experiential learning about civil resistance at departments and build intellectual bridges between a host department or university and civil society on the local and national levels
- Encourage university libraries to stock civil resistance literature
- Connect ICNC’s teaching of civil resistance with the current state of affairs in the region where ICNC academic seminar takes place
- Enhance the study of civil resistance at a host university by encouraging an interdisciplinary approach to the subject that will bring together different schools of thought that might be present at a host university. These schools of thought may include history, social psychology, international relations, political science, sociology, conflict studies, security studies, peace and conflict resolution, or natural sciences
What ICNC offers host institutions
ICNC offers host institutions an academic seminar with developed curriculum on civil resistance. Seminar duration typically ranges from two to four full days of teaching. Instructors include ICNC staff, ICNC academic advisors and other collaborators. ICNC selects presenters based on the specific nature and goals of the academic seminar. The 90-minute sessions of the seminar usually run from 9am till 5pm with breaks in between.
All instructors’ fees and travel costs are covered by ICNC.
ICNC also develops online classes to complement its live seminars with a number of electronic resources including audio, video and texts. The resources remain available for seminar participants indefinitely. The ICNC online classroom provides great resources which are instrumental in helping faculty members develop their own curriculum following the seminar.
ICNC further offers post-seminar assistance and support to faculty members wishing to incorporate civil resistance into departmental curriculum and research. We aim to help faculty members develop innovative curriculum on civil resistance, much of which has been road-tested by ICNC at a range of academic venues.
What is expected of host institutions
Recruitment of participants: After ICNC confirms the selection of the academic institution to host ICNC seminar, the host institution will be expected to recruit faculty and students to participate voluntarily in the seminar through an open call. A sample call for participants can be downloaded here. The host institution can modify this call for participants to meet its particular needs.
Minimum of participants: ICNC requests that host institutions ensure a minimum of 30-35 participants will attend the seminar during its full duration.
Facilities and catering: Host institutions are expected to provide appropriate facilities with teaching aids (e.g. a computer with PowerPoint, projector, audio speakers, flip charts) and some catering during the event.
Meeting with key faculty and senior university administrators: The host institution will be expected to arrange a meeting during the seminar for ICNC senior staff with key faculty and university administrators to facilitate discussion about curriculum and research development in the field of civil resistance studies at the host institution.
Optional: Host institutions may decide to award academic credits or provide certificates of attendance to the participants who attend ICNC seminars, but neither is a requirement.
How to apply:
Please submit your proposal for hosting an ICNC academic seminar in 2016 by clicking on the online application form link below [no longer active]. Applications were due on September 10, 2015.
ICNC fields faculty presenters based on the specific nature and goals of the academic seminar. You can view several examples of schedules from past academic seminars here: St. Andrews University, 2013 | Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), 2013 | University of Cambridge, 2012 | University of Deusto, 2012 | University of Amsterdam, 2012 | University of Sarajevo, 2015 | European Humanities University, 2015 | IPSI Bologna, 2015 | Collegium Civitas, 2014 | Yale University, 2014 | IPSI Bologna, 2014 | New York University, 2014