Ever wanted to learn how to resolve a conflict? Negotiations supported by third parties help to de-escalate and transform inter-personal, societal and international conflicts. Mediation is a key mechanism of conflict management and transformation and, under specific conditions, enables solutions and prevents violence. Every two years, MODULE 11 of MAPIR’s study program introduces students to concepts and approaches of international conflict management and transformation as well as to the practices of actually mediating a conflict between political parties. During a simulation and role play students can test their knowledge of and competencies for managing and transforming a present and real conflict. In Summer Term 2019, students re-negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (so called Iran nuclear deal) in Bad Urach (read more here – LINK). Although funding is commonly granted, students have to cover an affordable amount of the simulation costs (about 150 Euros – subject to change). The payment modalities of students’ share of the costs is negotiable.

Are you interested in contemporary challenges to security and peace in Europe and would like to discuss approaches and strategies with policy makers, experts, activists and journalists? Every two years, MODULE 9 of the MAPIR’s study program focuses on European and global security institutions from a variety of theoretical perspectives and with a broader understanding of security’s political meaning. A complementary study trip provides students with the opportunity to meet policy makers, experts, activists and journalists in Europe’s political power centers. In Summer Term 2020, the study trip encompasses a visit to the European Council in Strasbourg, the EU Commission, Parliament and NGOs in Brussels, the NATO-SPAPE Headquarter in Mons, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) as well as the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. Although funding is commonly granted, students have to cover an affordable amount of the study trip’s cost (about 350 Euros – subject to change). The payment modalities of students’ share of the costs is negotiable.

Want to learn more about peace & conflict while traveling? Peace Boat is a cruiser run by a Japanese NGO with the same name. The NGO was founded in 1983 with the clear mission to promote peace, international dialogue, human rights and sustainability. For this purpose, Peace Boat travels the world seas and brings together people from diverse countries often with a divisive past. Every two years, a delegation of MAPIR students joins the Peace Boat for a two week trip. On board, students participate in a broad peace education program. In ports of call, they meet local peace activists to discuss strategies for conflict settlement and transformation. In 2017, for instance, MAPIR students visited the War Museum in Dubrovnik and met representatives of the Croatian NGO DEŠA. During the Bosnia War, DEŠA supported women and children affected by violence and displacement. After the war, DEŠA organized workshops to promote reconciliation between former enemies and to transform patriarchal structures in Balkan societies.
Since 2005, the Peace Boat study trip is organized in cooperation with the Berghof Foundation and Peace Boat activist Jasna Bastic. For MAPIR students, the excursion represents an important qualification opportunity. They can enrich their academic knowledge with practical experience of local peace work and at the same time gain insights into future professional fields. Until now, it was possible to mobilize significant external funding to support students’ participation. As long as external funding is available, students’ share is about 800 € for the trip. The payment modalities of students’ share of the costs is negotiable.

You can learn more about the excursion in this leaflet.

The students of the excursion 2019 produced a podcast with the local radio station Wüste Welle about their trip and the countries they visited. The podcast episodes as well as an interview about the trip can be listened to on the website of the free radio station Wüste Welle [German only].

Would you like to find out how it feels to be an international diplomat? Then the Model United Nations Conference (NMUN) might be something for you. NMUN is held once a year in New York City. Since more than 40 years, NMUN brings together about 5000 students from all over the world in order to simulate the work of various UN committees. NMUN, thus, is the largest conference of its kind at university level. It offers an extraordinary opportunity for students who are interested in international relations to gain practical knowledge about the functioning of the United Nations and about the practice of international diplomacy. Some sessions of the main conference will even be held in the UN Head Quarters.
The Institute of Political Science at the University of Tübingen has been sending a delegation to NMUN since 1997. As part of the preparation process the students learn about the foreign policy objectives of a particular country and they acquire the necessary tools to diplomatically represent particular state interests in UN committees, such as the Security Council, the General Assembly, the WHO, UNEA or UNHCR. The workshop will also provide specific training of rhetorical and negotiation skills. Training simulations are an essential part of the preparation process. NMUN provides a valuable opportunity to combine practical preparation with the theoretical expertise about the functioning of the United Nations. So far, NMUN has received significant external funding in order to facilitate the participation of the students. With funding available, students’ share for the trip is around 1.300 Euros.

The Tübingen delegation has received several awards in the past.
More detailed information on past simulations and the current delegation can be found on the Tübingen NMUN website:
https://nmuntuebingen.wordpress.com/