The Conflict Studies Research Center (CSRC) at the Arab American University (AAUP)completed its first annual International Graduate Summer School (IGSS). IGSS – Summer 2023 was launched in collaboration with the Julien J. Studley Graduate Programs in International Affairs (GPIA) at the New School (TNS), NY, where students from various nationalities who study in US academic institutions participated in the annual ISS in AAUP’s campus in Ramallah.
The Summer school commenced on July 2, 2023 and ended on August, 18, 2023. The program offered two accredited graduate level courses, Arabic classes, field visits, and Internships.
The two courses offered this summer:
- Palestinian Identity & Culture – Nahed Habiballah, Ph.D.
- Structures & Culture of Settler Colonialism in Comparative Perspective – Benoit Challand, Ph.D
The international students were selected by governmental, civil, and research institutions for their internships which consisted of 20 hours/week. The internships provided the students with hands on experience on issues that affect the Palestinian society as well as help them develop personal and professional skills.
The internship program deepened international students’ understanding of Palestinian institutions and their work.
IGSS partners for the internship program for the summer of 2023 are:
The Development Work Center, Al-Haq Foundation, the Palestinian Museum, the Palestinian Radio and Television, and Sakiya Foundation .
The center organized educational field visits to important socio-historical sites such as Jerusalem, Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Haifa. those visits allowed students to gain deeper understanding of the intertwining geopolitical structures and how they affect the lives of the Palestinian population. Furthermore, students visited exhibitions and attended performances in Qattan, the Palestine Museum, Ramallah municipality and others to get a perspective on the Palestinian cultural life.
This program is the first of its kind in Palestine. It adopts an interdisciplinary approach to the legal, political, social and cultural issues facing Palestine. It gives students the opportunity to engage with controversial issues in conflict, urban studies, international relations, and social justice.
CSRC plans to hold IGSS annually on AAUP campus at the Arab American University in Ramallah.
