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Rotary Peace Fellowships for dedicated peacebuilders
The Rotary Foundation has announced accepting applications for fully funded Rotary Peace Fellowship, which covers tuition and living expenses, increases the capacity of dedicated peacebuilders from communities around the world to prevent and resolve conflict by offering academic training, field experience, and professional networking.
In a press release the Foundation said: As a humanitarian organisation, promoting peace is a cornerstone of Rotary’s mission. By carrying out service projects, supporting peace fellowships and scholarships, and partnering with others, Rotary members take action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, discrimination, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources. We believe that supporting peace and development leaders in their education and careers is key to creating a more peaceful world.
Rotary Peace Fellows are selected every year in a globally competitive process based on personal, academic, and professional achievements. Fellows earn either a master’s degree or a postgraduate diploma in peace and development studies at one of the Rotary Peace Centers located at leading universities around the world. More than 1,700 programme alumni are working in more than 140 countries as leaders in national governments, nongovernmental organizations, education and research, peacekeeping and law enforcement, business and consulting, human rights law, media and the arts, and international organisations such as the United Nations.
Master’s degree:
15-24 month program, small-group classroom learning, in fields related to peace and development
Intended for leaders near the start of their careers
50 fellows selected annually to study at one of five Rotary Peace Centers at partner universities, which offer interdisciplinary curricula with research-informed teaching
2-3 month field study experience to develop practical skills
Fellows connect with an international cohort of fellows, experts and thought leaders, and a global network of Rotary members.
Professional development certificate:
One-year programme for working professionals that blends online learning, in-person classes, and an independent project
Intended for social change leaders with extensive experience working in peace-related fields
Interdisciplinary programme includes a one- or two-week online preliminary course, 10 weeks of on-site courses with field studies, a nine-month period during which fellows implement a social change initiative (with interactive online sessions), and an on-site capstone seminar
Forty fellows will be selected to earn a postgraduate diploma in peacebuilding and conflict transformation at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Candidates who are from Africa, have worked in Africa, work with African communities or initiatives outside the continent, or demonstrate a compelling interest in learning about peacebuilding within Africa can apply for the certificate programme at Makerere University.
Similarly 40 fellows will be selected to earn a postgraduate diploma in peace and development studies at Bahçesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey. Candidates who are from the Middle East or North Africa, have worked in the region, work elsewhere around the world with communities or initiatives related to the Middle East or North Africa, or demonstrate a compelling interest in learning about peacebuilding within the region can apply for the programme at Bahçesehir University.
Eligibility: Qualified candidates must:
Have three years of related work experience for the master’s programme
Have five years of related work experience for the certificate programme and be able to explain how their plan to promote peace aligns with Rotary’s mission Be proficient in English (Master’s candidates whose first language is not English must provide English language standardised test scores.)
Have a bachelor’s degree (Master’s candidates must provide a copy of their transcripts.)
Demonstrate leadership skills
Have a strong commitment to cross-cultural understanding and peace Candidates must have at least three years between the completion of their most recent academic degree programme (undergraduate or graduate degree) and their intended start date for the fellowship. Candidates currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate programme are not eligible to apply.
Application tips:
Review the eligibility restrictions and the relevant experience guide.
Research the curriculum and programs at each of the Rotary Peace Centers. Connect with a local Rotary or Rotaract Club or an online club for application mentorship and a recommendation. Applications for the 2025-26 academic term need to be submitted by 15 May 2024. Please write to rotarypeacecenters@rotary.org with questions. If you know someone who might be a good candidate for the Rotary Peace Fellowship, please submit a referral form with their name and email address. We’ll contact them with information on how to apply. Thank you for supporting our programme. Follow the Rotary Peace Centers on Facebook. ‘For further information, you can contact your local Rotary club or write to the District Scholarship Subcommittee Chair on danyaudu@yahoo.com.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
