1. Developing Human Resources for Conflict Prevention
As the proverb goes, ‘Slow but steady wins the race’. Making progress in the sphere of conflict prevention begins with the development of specialists in the field. Since 1999, JCCP has held the ‘Post-Graduate Program for Conflict Prevention’ in response to requests from students and workers with a strong interest in this area of study. Through the program, which offers post-graduate level education and training, the Center is aiming to not only train researchers and activists in the field of conflict prevention, but also to contribute to the development of internationally-oriented people who can play an active role in a broad range of fields in the future.

2. Program Overview
The post-graduate program for conflict prevention consists of three components, namely a three-week Seminar Course, a five-day Open Lecture Course, and a two-month Overseas Training Course.

(a) The Seminar Course
The Seminar Course takes place over three weeks every year in August. For the course, 36 distinguished experts from Japan and abroad give classes to 13 students on 35 different subjects which can be divided into three broad categories: conflict prevention theory, policy-making, and case studies. This is a domestic program and is held at the JCCP’s Headquarters in Tokyo. Most of the lectures and discussions are conducted in Japanese. The course is open to college graduates who are interested in international issues and the activities of NGOs in developing countries. Candidates should have good Japanese ability, communicative English ability and good computer skills. Applicants with overseas experience (particularly in developing countries) or a background in business are welcome and there is no age limit for participants.

(b) The Open Lecture Course
JCCP’s Open Lecture Course is held every year in central Tokyo. The course is run in the evenings over a five-day period (Monday-Friday) in September, with two hour-long lectures each evening. The lecture topics cover a diverse range of issues, including ‘The meaning of conflict prevention in the post-Cold War era’, ‘Military power and International Human Rights Law’, and ‘Terrorism and modern conflict prevention’. The presenters have experience in a range of fields, including the government, academic, private and NGO sectors.

The lectures (all conducted in Japanese) are open to the public but seats are limited to about 200 persons and there is an attendance fee of 5,000Yen. Those interested in attending the 2003 Open Lecture Course are asked to contact [email protected] by the middle of August. Please note that places are allocated on “a first-come-first-served” basis.

(c) Overseas Training Course
Five students are selected from those who have successfully completed the Seminar Course (see above) to participate in the two-month Overseas Training Course. This course is conducted at JCCP’s Overseas Training Facilities in Sri Lanka. Through ‘On the Job Training’ the participants undertake practical training, make inspections of conflict zones and also experience firsthand a variety of local programs for conflict prevention. In addition, the students participate in field trips in Cambodia, organized by JCCP Representative’s Office in Phnom Penh.

4. Active Alumni
Despite its short history of four years, the “Post-Graduate Program for Conflict Prevention” has produced graduates that are already active in many parts of the world, as JCCP staff at the Tokyo office and JCCP Representative’s Offices abroad; as United Nations volunteers; and as staff in other NGOs and think tanks. These ambitious and skilled young professionals are highly valued not only in conflict prevention/preventive diplomacy initiatives, but also in other vanguard areas of international contribution.

Comments from a Seminar Course Graduate
“Listening to the lectures of top-level experts in various fields of conflict prevention and exchanging ideas with fellow participants from very different specialties and backgrounds made me understand clearly how JCCP tries to develop people. The Post-Graduate Seminar Course opened up new horizons and made us search deep inside our souls, supporting and guiding us to the next step. It was an intensely meaningful three weeks.”                                                            (Chikako Ishikawa)

UPDATE:2003/8/3