UPEACE - UNITAR MA in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes - Field Visit - Geneva 2024
UNITAR is an autonomous institution within the United Nations system with a mission to deliver innovative training and conduct research on knowledge systems to develop the capacities of its beneficiaries. As the training arm of the United Nations, UNITAR’s mission is to develop capacities to enhance global decision-making and to support country level action for shaping a better future.
The University for Peace (UPEACE) is an institution of higher education dedicated to the study of peace. Created by UN General Assembly Resolution 35/55, the University for Peace has been training leaders for peace for the past four decades. Through its Master’s and Doctoral degree programmes, UPEACE trains future leaders to explore and formulate strategies and practices in various contexts to address the causes of multiple problems affecting human and global wellbeing, and thus contribute to the processes of peacekeeping and peacebuilding.
Each year, as part of the UPEACE-UNITAR MA in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes, UNITAR organizes two optional 5-day field trips to Geneva (Switzerland) and/or The Hague (Netherlands) for the students enrolled in the Master of Arts in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes (Onsite, Online and Hybrid) and the Certificate in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes (online).
During this activity, students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the very heart of diplomacy, visit different international organizations and network with other diplomats, personnel of permanent missions accredited to the UN, civil servants of international organizations and civil society representatives.
NOTE: Only students enrolled in the UPEACE - UNITAR MA in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes can register for this activity.
As part of the MA in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes, offered in cooperation with the University for Peace (UPEACE), UNITAR designed a 5-day field visit to Geneva, Switzerland, offering participants a full immersion into the city's international working environment.
In line with UNITAR’s mandate, its main purpose is to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills related the role that international law and institutions play in the settlement of international and transnational disputes, and the role of national and international courts and tribunals in contributing to the settlement of disputes This will enable them to work more effectively and efficiently in these multilateral settings.
UNITAR lastly intends to strengthen the participants’ conviction of the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, especially multilateralism. In the long term, this does not only result in participants’ more favourable view on the organisation, but also in a higher willingness to cooperate across borders.
The field visit will take place from 1st to 5th July, 2024 in Geneva.
Hosting 35 international organizations and more than 250 NGOs, the city of Geneva offers itself for a whole series of potentially formative experiences. UNITAR hosts the activity in the headquarters of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and provides a nuanced balance between the following different components:
Expert Lectures:
UNITAR’s professional network across Geneva allows it to organize a series of 1-2-hour expert lectures, in which participants can directly learn from UN personnel or other high-level officials.
Training Workshops:
As its core activity and raison d’être, UNITAR provides several face-to-face workshops to the participants. Delivered by experts such as retired ambassadors, previous programmes have included the following workshops:
- Negotiation Skills
- Public Speaking Skills
- Workshop on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Guided Tours:
Geneva is rich in historic buildings important to international affairs. Thanks to its access across the city, UNITAR can provide a series of private guided tours. Previous programmes have included tours through the following facilities:
- The United Nations’ Palace of Nations (3-hours extensive private guided tour)
- The Museum of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
- The Maison de la Paix, housing the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)
Cultural Activities:
Students will have the chance to participate in cultural events, such as a dinner cruise in Lake Léman.
Given the complexity of Geneva's multilateral environment, UNITAR will cover a series of different thematic areas during the course of the Programme. Students will examine the role of international law in the settlement of disputes in a wide array of fields, such as human rights, armed conflicts, territorial and maritime border issues, environment and climate change, multilateral trade, and investments, amongst others.
The Field Visit is designed to be highly interactive and participatory. Activities will include a high level of direct exposure to policy practitioners and diplomatic settings, thereby allowing participants to gain thorough knowledge and understanding of the United Nations.
All of the activities will take place in the English language. Should there be any component not be available in English, UNITAR will ensure the participants will be provided with simultaneous interpretation.
Only students enrolled in the UPEACE - UNITAR MA in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes can register for this activity.
At the end of the field visit, each participant will be awarded a certificate of participation. They will also be asked to complete a feedback questionnaire to evaluate the success of the field visit in achieving the learning objectives.
UNITAR will be responsible for the overall design, coordination and implementation of the Immersion Programme. It will liaise with participants on a regular basis prior to the activity's implementation in order to ensure a smooth and flawless organization for everyone involved.
The participants are responsible to purchase their own travel tickets to and from Geneva as well as to apply for a visa to Switzerland. UNITAR can support this process with the help of an official visa invitation letter. Participants further need to take care of their own accommodation and daily meals.
UNITAR will sponsor a welcome dinner to the participants, welcome package including relevant training materials, entry tickets to sights and museums as well as the transportation cost during the activity. Please note that as of now, no scholarships are available to facilitate participation.
I understand that the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) does not insure participants in the above-described activity and I am advised to arrange at my own expense insurance against sickness, accident, permanent or temporary disability, death, and third-party risk for the period of the meeting, including travel time.