Hello PCDN Colleagues,

I would like to share an opportunity with you to have your organization considered as a partner for the Columbia University graduate course, "Applied Peacebuilding".  Through partnership, your organization will work with Columbia graduate Student Consultants / interns, who will design and implement a project of value to your organization.   If you would like your organization to be considered as a partner to receive an intern from the course in summer 2012, please complete and return the attached Terms of Reference (TOR) Questionnaire by January 6th, 2012.  Certainly, if you need more time, please contact me.

Benefits

If you chose to partner with the course, a Student Consultant will design and implement a project that meets the needs of your organization.  Organizations that work with students reap significant value, including new ideas and energy, as well as the outputs of the specific project.  Students also help create a link between your organization and Columbia, UNDP, and Consensus, a conflict resolution consulting firm, opening up an array of possibilities for further institutional collaboration.

Previous projects have included:

•  Research;

•  Monitoring and Evaluation;

•   Assessment and analyses;

•   Conferences and training workshops;

•   Curriculum design; and

•   Video and documentary projects.

The scope of each project is based on programmatic need, student interest and skill, and a realistic evaluation of what can be accomplished over the course of a summer internship.  Please keep this in mind when completing the TOR.

Student profile

The students have all completed one year of graduate work in international affairs at SIPA, and bring a rich diversity of regional and thematic knowledge to their internships, in addition to the strong project management skills they develop in the course.  All students work under faculty supervision, and we are available to you during the spring and summer phases, should you need anything we can provide.

Structure

In late January, each student selects a partner from the organizations that have completed Terms of Reference Questionnaires (see attached).  Students’ choices are based on the information supplied by you in the TOR.  Because we strive to connect students with appropriate skills and backgrounds to your organization, unfortunately we cannot guarantee that each organization will be matched with a student every year

Throughout the spring, your student consultants will communicate with you, with the guidance of the course instructors, to develop a project (or an element of a project) that you want to have implemented for your organization.

Over the summer, students travel to work with your organization to implement the project, with the active support and supervision of the Project Supervisor you have designated.

Role of the Project Supervisor

The role of the “Project Supervisor” from your institution is critical to the success of this initiative.  Project Supervisors commit to communicate regularly with student interns throughout the spring as the students work to design projects based on the TOR.  During the summer internship, Project Supervisors should have daily contact with students in the field to provide support and feedback.

Institutional Commitments

We ask that each organization contribute as much as possible to the costs incurred by students in the course of their fieldwork.  Logistical support and workspace, including access to translators and staff are basic commitments that each institution must make.  Additional support can come in the form of cash stipends or in-kind support, including room and board, transportation, and other basic needs. 

If you are interested in partnering with this exciting course this year, please complete the attached Terms of Reference questionnaire, and send it back to me via email, by January 6th, 2012.  Please feel free to  email me atzmetz@consensusgroup.com if you have any questions.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Zachary Metz

Instructor, Columbia University Applied Peacebuilding

Attachments:

•The Student-Partner Organization Relationship at a Glance

•Terms of Reference (TOR) Questionnaire

Zachary Metz, Partner

Director, Peace Building Practice

Consensus

212.391.8100 ext. 105

www.consensusgroup.com