Asia Leaders Programme
(MA Dual Campus with Ateneo de Manila University)

The Asia Leaders Programme, a Dual Campus Master Programme, is a shared initiative between The Nippon Foundation, the University for Peace, and Ateneo de Manila University. The objective of the programme is to train Asians to become practitioners who will work in the field for peace building. Take special note that the programme is not designed to train and develop academics.

This modality offers the support for individuals who do not have a proficient command of English to work in this increasingly common international language and to become comfortable in their professional abilities as they gain academic skills.

Description of the Programme

This 19-month intensive academic programme begins in April and is accomplished in three terms: the initial language-training module and courses at Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines; regular courses at UPEACE headquarters in Costa Rica; and a practical four-month internship in the Philippines.

Admitted applicants will be automatically granted full scholarships provided by The Nippon Foundation. A full scholarship includes: tuition fee, language-training module, academic materials, air travel and living expenses during the period of studies.

The Asia Leaders Programme offers the theoretical and practical post graduate education to Asians from diverse cultures and backgrounds to attain a deep understanding of the central issues of peace building. Participants will broaden their base of knowledge and will be able to engage with the major concepts, themes, and debates within peace studies, preparing themselves for work with NGOs, governments, aid agencies, the UN and other organizations.

Furthermore, this programme empowers participants to conceptualize the key challenges faced by the international community, and the most promising potential areas and courses of action through an interdisciplinary and multicultural perspective.

Academic Schedule

From April to August (The Philippines): Content based English language instruction module. Participants are expected to reach a score of 600 points of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) at the end of the academic courses of the programme.

From August to spring (Costa Rica): Participants will continue their studies in one of the Regular MA Programmes at UPEACE:

• Environmental Security and Peace
• Environmental Security and Peace - Specialization in Climate Change and Security (CCS)
• Gender and Peace Building
• International Law and Human Rights
• International Law and the Settlement of Disputes
• International Peace Studies
• Media, Peace and Conflict Studies
• Natural Resources and Peace
• Peace Education
• Responsible Management and Sustainable Economic Development

From spring to June (The Philippines): Students will pursue specialized Asian-context courses; these are similar in nature to the ones below:

• Gender and Peacebuilding in Asia
• Asia Peace Psychology
• Small Arms, Arms Control and Human Society in Asia
• Civil Society and Peacebuilding in Asia
• Graduate Project preparation workshop

From June to October: Participants will work on the internship in a local/international organization in Tte Philippines.

Examples of professional involvement of our graduates

• A student from Bangladesh is now working at UNDP Liberia, as an International Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist through United Nations Volunteers (UNV).
• A student from Sri Lanka is working at UNDP Indonesia on the position of Project Officer for the ART GOLD programme.
• One student from Japan is working in the Japanese diplomatic mission in Afghanistan.
• One student from Indonesia is UN Office of the Recovery Coordinator in one region from Indonesia.

For complete course descriptions, course calendar and information about the professors, please follow this link

For further information on admission, please contact: admissions@upeace.org