MA Introduction
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The Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences is proud to offer its Master of Arts in Intercultural Conflict Management (MA-ICM). The M.A. programme is a response to the challenges of conflict, cultural diversity, forced and voluntary migration, violations of human rights and human exploitation. These issues have heightened tensions and social injustices for a growing number of individuals and groups at local, national and international levels. Thus there is an urgent need for professionals who can act effectively on issues of conflict management and social justice in multicultural contexts. Instruction on the M.A. programme is informed by principles and values reflecting an inclusive and people-centred approach with a goal toward social transformation and the realisation of human rights.
How is the MA-ICM programme designed?
This international programme is taught in English and is designed to bring students together from a variety of backgrounds and cultures to facilitate cross-cultural learning experiences. Students will be provided with an inter-disciplinary overview of the challenges facing multicultural societies and societies experiencing ethnic conflict. Students will develop comprehensive intercultural skills and the capacity to work effectively in a cross-cultural environment. The programme emphasizes self-knowledge and cultural awareness and develops students' practical skills in intercultural communication, mediation and conflict resolution and the application of human rights.
Who is teaching on the MA-ICM programme?
Acknowledged experts are invited as lecturers and guest speakers. The teaching body comprises experts from the Alice-Salomon-University and other academic, non-governmental and governmental institutions such as:
- Berghof Research Center for Constructive Conflict Management;
- Amnesty International;
- German Institute for Human Rights;
- Refugee Studies Centre at the University of Oxford;
- InWent (Capacity Building International);
- Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology;
- Humboldt University Berlin;
- Free University Berlin;
- WZB - Social Science Research Center Berlin;
- Paritätische Bundesakademie;
For whom is the MA-ICM programme of most interest?
The M.A. programme will be of most interest to individuals who are professionally active or have an academic interest in environments characterised by cultural diversity and conflict. These elements are frequently encountered in multi-ethnic contexts where competing group interests exist and where individuals have regulatory/control responsibilities requiring additional intercultural competence and mediation abilities.
Where might graduates find jobs?
There are many opportunities for pursuing a career in the field of Intercultural Conflict Management in both the public and private sectors. Apparently, some organisations have lately started to show specific interest in hiring intercultural conflict managers, but still many will be interested in someone who has these abilities in addition to the requirements of a more conventional job description and qualifications gained through previous education and work experience. Opportunities include jobs in relevant areas through professional roles, for instance, as field officers, managers, facilitators, trainers, administrators, advocates or researchers in national and international governmental, non-governmental and private sector organisations.
Students who completed the MA-ICM work now for example with
- ministries of their home countries;
- international organizations such as IOM;
- development cooperation organizations such as GTZ, AGEH;
- conflict management organizations such as ZFD, CCP - European Center for Conflict Prevention;
- several foundations, NGOs and Worker's Unions
Some alumnies continued their academic education and enroled in PhD programmes, e.g. at the Free University Berlin, Sussex University England, Haifa University Israel or already work as research fellows.