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The European Center for Peace and Development (ECPD)



UNIVERSITY FOR PEACE ESTABLISHED BY THE UNITED NATIONS
EUROPEAN CENTER FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT (ECPD)


European Center for Peace and Development (ECPD)

Evropski centar za mir i razvoj
Centre Européen pour la Paix et le Développement
Centro Europeo para la Paz y el Desarrollo
Европейский центр мира и развития



ORIGINS AND MISSION

The European Center for Peace and Development (ECPD) founded in Belgrade, in 1985, as an independent, international postgraduate education and research institution, with exterritorial status, is a Regional Centre of the University for Peace established by the United Nations.

The ECPD represents a unique institution in this part of the world, and has a special significance to countries of South-Eastern Europe.

The ECPD was established by the University for Peace United Nations with the main tasks and objectives “to organize and carry out postgraduate studies, research projects and dissemination of knowledge, which contribute to the promotion of peace, development and international cooperation”. Following its mission defined in the Charter of the University for Peace established by UN and its own Statute, the ECPD “… brings together the intellectual potential from all parts of the world for the benefit of implementation of the programs of education and research projects devoted to the fulfilment of the ECPD aims and objectives”.

For its significant contribution to the programme and objectives of the International Year of Peace, ECPD was awarded by UN Secretary General in 1987 by the PEACE MESSENGER AWARD.


TASKS AND OBJECTIVES

Basic tasks and objectives of ECPD have been incorporated into its program structure, which features:

  (A) Studies leading to postgraduate degrees and specialist postgraduate training in the European Union law, International business law, International Relations and Diplomacy, International MBA Studies in the field of strategic, financial, human resources, urban and ecological management and Health Management Studies within the international programme of Global School of Health.

  (B) Interdisciplinary research on sustainable development issues, regional development, multicultural, multi-confessional and inter-ethnic relations, eco-management and international relations;

  (C) Organizing international meetings, conferences, round tables, symposia, and workshops on topical issues from its programme;

  (D) Publishing conference proceedings, professional and scientific texts, research papers, case-studies, textbooks, etc

.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES

Activities of ECPD are carried out by over 150 regular staff and part-time fellows, visiting professors and researchers from numerous European and other countries.

  (A) Postgraduate Studies: The ECPD carries out the following international postgraduate studies:

Master of Science level in areas of: the European Union and International Business Law, International Relations and Diplomacy (focused on economic diplomacy), Technology of Solving Development Problems, Strategic, Financial, Human Resources, Urban and Ecological management and Health management within International programme of Global School of Health.

Specialist level in areas of: Biomedicine and Traditional Medicine, and Health-Care Management.

Training for refreshing and upgrading knowledge is an important part of the ECPD postgraduate studies. ECPD organises annually in total about 40 summer schools, specialist courses and seminars. Graduated attendants of these training events receive internationally recognized certificates.

  (B) Doctoral studies are organized and carried out in areas of science in which the ECPD conducts its international postgraduate studies and research activities, that is, in human resources and natural environment, social studies, economics, technology, international relations, law and management. Doctoral studies last three years, with two semesters or two years, having three trimesters a year.

  (C) Research Activities: The ECPD devotes considerable time and effort to the fulfilment of one of its major tasks – to carry out research activities intended to contribute to solutions of acute and chronic problems, in general, and particularly in South-Eastern Europe. In twenty five years of its operations, ECPD conducted several dozens of large research projects and studies related to issues of sustainable development, international relations and inter-ethnic relations.

ECPD developed, besides other, a number of projects focused on efforts leading to peace building and socio-economic development in South-Eastern Europe. A major ECPD regional research program has been developed under the title “The Balkans in the 21st Century – The Ways Leading to Improvement of Peace, Development and Regional Cooperation”. Within the framework of this program, several projects have been developed, and some are already completed.

Since 2005 ECPD has been involved as partner in several EU – funded projects. Among others, notable impact had GREAT IST (on information society), BIS-RTD (public funding of RTD) and R4R (technology transfer among regions).

  (D) International meetings: Since its creation, the European Center for Peace and Development organized numerous international meetings at various levels and of various characters, held in former Yugoslavia (Dubrovnik, Belgrade, Ljubljana, Sveti Stefan, Prizren, Brioni Islands, Ohrid, etc.) and in some other European countries, including Athens (Greece), Bremen (Germany), Varna (Bulgaria), Moscow (Russian Federation), Budapest (Hungary), Saint Endreol (France), Trento (Italy), and Vienna (Austria). Most of these meetings were attended by several hundreds of participants (even up to 1000), including former and current heads of states and governments, Nobel Prize winners, leading academics, prominent professors, experts and other important public figures.

Relying upon its rich experience in this field, ECPD continues organizing such meetings, often with several international partners. For that purpose, ECPD has established an International Permanent Study Group on Inter-ethnic Reconciliation, Religious Tolerance and Human Security in the Balkans and every year holds a major annual International Conference on this subject.

  (E) Publishing: ECPD publishes yearly more than twenty books, conference proceedings, text books and other publications needed for educational purposes.


ECPD MANAGEMENT

The organizational structure of ECPD is defined in accordance with its international mission and the programme of activities. Its management structure consists of the governing and executive bodies.

The main governing body is the ECPD Council, consisting of nine members. The Council defines and directs the ECPD operating policies and monitors its overall activities.

Among others, in past it was chaired by Saburo Okita, a well-known Japanese diplomat and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassadeur de France, Paul-Marc Henry, a prominent diplomat and a leading executive of several important international organizations and founder of the UNDP (United Nations Development Program) and the well-known French general and geopolitical thinker, Pierre-Marie Gallois, who held this position until 2004. Due to his extraordinary contribution to the development and work of ECPD and its international affirmation, General Pierre-Marie Gallois was elected Honorary President of the ECPD Council. After his withdrawal of this position, on October 2010, H.E. Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Former UN Secretary-General was elected as the President of the ECPD Honorary Council, which consists of a group of world-known public figures, politicians, academics and diplomats.

The ECPD Academic Council deals with development and implementation of the ECPD master and doctoral studies programmes and its research projects. Prof. dr Takehiro Togo, a distinguished Japanese diplomat and professor of international relations at Tokai University, Tokyo, current President of the Council succeeded on this position Prof. dr Sinichi Ichimura, President of the ICSEAD.

The ECPD International Educational and Scientific Board takes care of the implementation of the ECPD postgraduate studies and research activities. Academic Branislav Šoškić, a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, and a former president of state of Montenegro, is currently the President of this Board.

The ECPD Executive Board, chaired by H.E. Prof. Dr. Albert Maes, Ambassador EU, Professor, University of Namur, Belgium, is responsible for coordination of activities and setting program priorities.

The ECPD organizational structure is based on Executive Staff, consisting of the Executive Director and the ECPD Secretariat.

The ECPD Executive Director Prof. dr Negoslav P. Ostojić, prominent expert for international economic relations and sustainable development, represents the ECPD and coordinates its overall activities.

The ECPD Secretariat consists of: a) Academic staff b) Officers and c) Administrative and Technical staff.

The ECPD Associates, chosen from the ranks of academic and other experts from all over the world, have an important role in ECPD activities. They are appointed as directors of educational programmes and research projects, as directors of the functional or territorial offices (bureaus, study centres, affiliations), lecturers and professors at international postgraduate study programmes or as researchers, consultants or special advisers.


FUTURE ACTIVITIES

In order to manage successfully its international activities, the ECPD has set up, outside of the headquarters, its operational units (affiliations, postgraduate study centres, research institutes, offices and/or programme units) in numerous centres, including Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, France, Republic of Macedonia, UK, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Austria, Italy, Belgium, Romania, Bulgaria, etc. The most recent regional centre is opened in Prizren, Kosovo.

ECPD has established good relations with a great number of national and international organizations, as well as with well-known universities and other academic institutions in various parts of the world. Many of them have entrusted ECPD with research into specific development and other problems and/or participated in carrying out its international postgraduate studies and specialist training programmes.

ECPD has adopted its Programme of work for the period of 2009 – 2015, including more than one hundred projects to be implemented through ECPD activities.

The ECPD Programme of work includes the following priorities:

  Further streamlining of its training and research programs;

-    Promotion of its cooperation with national and international, governmental and non-governmental organizations and academic institutions;

-    Recruiting new professors and experts as lecturers at the ECPD postgraduate studies, directors of ECPD research and educational projects;

-    Establishment of new ECPD operating units and affiliations in some countries and regions, especially in the countries in transition;

-    Soliciting international support particularly for the new ECPD programs (inter-ethnic relations, security studies, preparations for EU accession and issues of sustainable development) and development of the long-term ECPD strategy for its next twenty years (2010-2030).

Pursuing its strategy, ECPD will continue to focus its attention on a multi-disciplinary and synergic approach to studies and research, aimed specifically at the timely recognition and efficient solution of peace and development problems, compliance with requirements of sustainable development, and building foundations for higher quality of life – all with the focus on South-Eastern Europe.

The European Center for Peace and Development of the University for Peace established by the United Nations is open to new ideas and welcomes any support for the fulfilment of its main tasks and objectives – to contribute to the promotion of peace, development and international cooperation