Summer School 2012
Call for Applications:
Deadline 24 February 2012
The Kosmopolis Institute of the University of Humanistic Studies in the Netherlands, in cooperation with Hivos (Humanist Institute for Cooperation with Developing Countries), the International Institute for Studies in Race, Reconciliation and Social Justice at the University of the Free State (UFS, South Africa), the Centre for the Study of Culture and Society (CSCS, India), the Center for Religious and Cross-Cultural Studies (CRCS, Indonesia), and the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) offers the 9th annual:
International Winter/Summer School:
‘Pluralism and Development’
UFS Bloemfontein, South Africa 16 July – 10 August 2012
We welcome applications from:
- Staff of civil society based organisations and Human Rights activists, policy makers and graduate students in India, Indonesia and Uganda who want to actively participate in the ‘Pluralism Knowledge Program’
- Graduate students from the University of Humanistic Studies and the University of the Free State with an international study profile and a proven interest in globalisation, development and/or diversity issues
The winter/summer school selection team seeks applications from practitioners and graduate students who are committed to further develop and integrate theories and practices of pluralism in their daily work and/or study. All participants are expected to conduct a self-designed workshop on their return to their home countries. Participants are encouraged to keep in touch with the knowledge program via the winter/summer school alumni network after completing the course and engage in follow up activities.
General information:
The course, taught at master level, will be conducted from July 16 to August 10, 2012 and will be hosted by the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
It involves a 4 week full time program of lectures, excursions, seminars, literature study, discussion, guided individual - and small group work and assignments. Selected participants are required to prepare a pre-winter/summer school assignment. More details will follow after selection.
The course will be completed with a group presentation and paper as well as a design for a pluralism case study/workshop which participants are expected to conduct after they return home.
Students enrolled in universities can obtain 7,5 EC study credits (European Union Higher Education credits) which may be transferred to other university study programs on request and after approval by the university). Upon successful completion, participants will be offered a Kosmopolis/University of Humanistic Studies Certificate in Development and Pluralism
Hivos is the main sponsor of the winter/summer/winter school. Selected participants will receive a bursary which covers their participation in the course, travel costs, accommodation and meals. Funding allows us to select four participants each from Uganda, Holland and India and Indonesia. In addition, we will be able to select 4-6 graduate students from the University of the Free State.
Interested individuals are invited to apply by e-mail for admission (or by fax if not possible) by completing the application form. An international coordination team will select the candidates, the Kosmopolis Institute will notify all candidates of the outcome of the selection by 23 March 2012
Program
The 2012 Pluralism and Development school is part of the Pluralism Knowledge Program (see also www.hivos.net choose tab: promoting pluralism)
This Knowledge Program is an academic-practitioner collaboration which aims to map and generate knowledge that will enhance the understanding of pluralism in the context of different societies and within a global context. The program works towards developing civil society based strategies to increase spaces for pluralism in practice. Pluralism in our view means active seeking of understanding across lines of difference and opening spaces for dialogue, human dignity and equality. The program departs from the daily realities of Hivos’ partner organisations in India, Indonesia, Uganda, South Africa and the Netherlands takes their experiences, questions and dilemma’s as the foundation of the program.
The winter/summer school program focuses on:
· Critical analysis of (1) key concepts in development theories and their normative and empowering impact, (2) human rights, its basic values and justifications and a reflection on the claims of the universality of human rights versus human rights as a western invention and (3) key issues in social theory and cultural studies with regard to civil society building and democratic empowerment
· Exploration of concrete civil society practices from perspectives of human – and sustainable development
· Theories and practices of pluralism in diverse societies
· Reflection on methods and strategies which are used by civil society based organisations in the promotion of pluralism, such as educational practices, dialogue, personal and social empowerment and civil society based community action programs
· Philosophical and ethical discussions on the basic values of cosmopolitan ethics, e.g. theories of global civil society building and democratic participation, sustainable development and global social justice.
The main aims of the Pluralism Knowledge Program are:
· comprehend and map existing studies and practices and generate new knowledge on core contemporary issues pertaining pluralism and fundamentalisms
· intensify links between development practitioners and academic researchers in ways that enrich both their knowledge bases with new perspectives, insights and skills
· support and empower civil society organisations to effectively design and advance new strategies, policies and practices of pluralism
· help create international networks of civil society initiatives around issues of pluralism
· translate acquired knowledge into strategies for promoting pluralism in practice
· Core Staff:
- Dr. Caroline Suransky - Director Kosmopolis Institute and co-chair of the Pluralism Knowledge Program, University of Humanistic Studies, the Netherlands
- Mr. JC van der Merwe, Senior Researcher - Institute for Studies in Race, Reconciliation and Social Justice, University of the Free State, South Africa
- Prof. Dr. Henk Manschot - Senior Fellow Kosmopolis, University of Humanistic Studies, the Netherlands
- Prof. Dr. Sitharamam Kakarala - Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of Culture & Society, India
- Dr. Zainal Abidin Bagir - Director Center for Religious – and Cross Cultural Studies, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia
- Ms. Emily Drani - Director Cross Cultural Foundation Uganda
- Ms. Dorothé van Driel - Executive Secretary Kosmopolis, the Netherlands
Additional international staff and guest lecturers from South Africa will
be announced later
Applications:
Deadline for application is the 24th February 2012.
You can download the Application form 
here
This application form must be returned by e-mail to: Ms Dorothé van Driel at dvd@uvh.nl
Should you not be able to e-mail, then you may fax your application to Kosmopolis c/o Dorothé van Driel fax + 31 30 2340738
More information?
For more general information please first consult the Kosmopolis link via the University for Humanistic Studies website at www.uvh.nl or contact dvd@uvh.nl
If you have additional questions, interested applicants may also consult the regional coordinators of the Pluralism Knowledge Program in their own country:
· India: Prof Ram Kakarala at ramsk@cscs.res.in
· Indonesia: Dr. Zainal Abidin Bagir at zainbagir@gmail.com
· Uganda: Ms. Emily Drani at ccfu@crossculturalfoundation.or.ug
· South Africa and the Netherlands: Dr. Caroline Suransky at c.suransky@uvh.nl
Please mention: ‘2012 winter school’
