The College is launching a new academic program that will provide students with immersive experiences that promote dynamic dialogue on the issues of conflict resolution and peace studies. Peace Corps Prep, offered in partnership with the Peace Corps, will be administered by the College’s Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (MIPCR).
“This collaboration between the College and the Peace Corps provides wonderful opportunities for our students to immerse themselves abroad in cross-cultural understanding and collaborative problem-solving,” said Maya Soetoro-Ng, MIPCR director. “It fosters an expansive way of thinking that is critical in a world of global interconnectedness, and allows students to broaden their horizons beyond our shores and enables them to share the gift of themselves, their culture and their insights with individuals from many nations.”
Peace Corps Prep is a partnership between the college and the Peace Corps that centers around an undergraduate interdisciplinary certificate program. The certificate combines targeted coursework with hands-on experience. Designed to build competencies needed to become strong Peace Corps volunteers or other intercultural fieldworkers, Participants will learn about and practice leadership skills, foreign languages, and a professional sector of their choice such as education, health, environment, agriculture, youth in development or community economic development.
Students who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate of completion from the Peace Corps. Although participation in Peace Corps Prep does not guarantee acceptance for Peace Corps service, the program’s specialized academic coursework and service experience will make students strong candidates for service.
The MIPCR is a multi-disciplinary community of scholars, students and practitioners who, through academic programs and outreach, promote cross-cultural understanding and collaborative problem-solving. The institute emphasizes critical thinking and collaboration to groom leaders to address contemporary and complex issues in Hawaiʻi, the Asia-Pacific region and the world.
For more information about Peace Corps Prep or to apply, contact Peace Corps Prep Coordinator José Barzola at uhip@hawaii.edu.
