Peace Scholars Summer Program in Norway

June 18th - August 3rd, 2012

Application deadline: January 31st, 2012

The Nobel Peace Forum consortium sponsors a Peace Prize Forum Scholars program. The goal of the program is to inspire and engage students and citizens to become full participants in peacemaking efforts around the world. Two students from each of the five Norwegian Lutheran colleges that make up the consortium will be selected as scholars and awarded a seven-week educational experience in Oslo, Norway, designed to deepen their understanding of issues related to peace, justice, democracy, and human rights. Click here for more information about the Peace Scholars program.

  • The program will be held from June 18-August 3, beginning in Lillehammer with a 5-day workshop together with students from the Balkan and Caucasus regions and the Middle East immediately prior to the ISS session. (Steinar Bryn from the Nansen Dialogue Network has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, 2010, and 2011). The program continues at the Oslo International Summer School where scholars will continue their peace studies and take an additional undergraduate course of their choice, offered at the ISS.
  • The Peace Prize Forum Seminar provides a general introduction to the interdisciplinary field of peace and conflict studies, and combines theoretical and empirical aspects. It will broadly touch on topics related to the causes of conflict, resolving conflict and building peace, and aims to familiarize students with the history, central issues and theories regarding conflict, war and peace.
  • The course will include seminars, visits and introduction to the work of various peace organizations and institutions in Norway (such as the Nobel Institute, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Nobel Peace Centre, and others, and a dialogue workshop with the Nansen Dialogue Network. During the seminar students will work on projects they will be asked to present at the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize Forum and at least two other venues during the following year. Students will also give an oral presentation of their research topics at the end of the Seminar and will write a take-home examination.
  • A scholarship covers all ISS program fees including academic credit, room, board, and airfare. A donor with an interest in peace making is covering this cost for St. Olaf's two scholars.
  • Upon returning to their respective campuses, the ten scholars will continue to communicate and find ways to build on the Oslo experience together. They will also be expected to play a leadership role in peace activities on their campuses, and assist with promoting the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize Forum.
  • Scholars will be named by February 13, 2012 and announced at the March 1-3, 2012 Nobel Peace Prize Forum, which will take place in Minneapolis. Peace Scholar recipients will be strongly encouraged to attend the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize Forum and required to attend the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize Forum.

Criteria and Application:

  • Open to full-time sophomore or junior students.
  • Strong academic record with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
  • Must be available to present at the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize Forum to be held March 2013

Application

  • 1,000 word essay (maximum), addressed to the Peace Scholars Selection Committee, articulating your interest in being a Peace Scholar, including how the experience would connect with your academic and vocational interests and goals.
  • Letter of recommendation from a faculty member.
  • Resume (please utilize the Center for Experiential Learning if you need assistance)
  • Unofficial transcript

Proposal Deadline and Process
Application materials should be uploaded to Ole Recruiting by January 31, 2012.  Questions about the program should be directed to Chris Chiappari <chiappar@stolaf.edu> (Soc/Anthro) or Nate Jacobi <jacobi@stolaf.edu> (Center for Experiential Learning).  Scholars will be selected and notified by February 13, 2012.
* Apply through OleRecruiting – by Tuesday, January 31st
1) Save your essay & unofficial transcript to a common location.
2) To save the transcript, log into the SIS system, choose grades, and then transcript; save the file as a .pdf document. 
3) Log into OleRecruiting.  Click on the Documents tab across the top of the screen.  Upload each of your documents. *Upload your resume as a "Resume", your essay as an "Writing Sample" and your unofficial transcript as an "Unofficial Transcript".
4) Have the faculty member email the recommendation to Andrea Kubinski <kubinski>.
5) Click on Employers (tab across top), enter St. Olaf College as a keyword, click on St. Olaf College, choose Available Positions, and click on Peace Scholars Summer Program. 
6) Use the drop down buttons on the right side of the description to select your essay and unofficial transcript.  Then click on Submit.  If you have successfully applied, you will see “You have submitted an application for this position” written just under Application Status on the top right.

Assistance uploading documents is available at the Center for Experiential Learning.