UNIVERSITYOF BRADFORD TO HOST ROTARY WORLD PEACE CONFERENCE

Peacemakers from across the globe are invited to attend apioneering conference to promote global peace and understanding at theUniversity of Bradford on Saturday, November 1, 2003.

The Presidential Celebrations will welcome Rotarians andother business professionals to celebrate the work of Rotary World PeaceScholars on the two-year graduate programme at Rotary Centres for InternationalStudies in peace and conflict resolution throughout the world.

The Universitys Department of Peace Studies was selectedfrom over 100 institutions around the world last year to become one of onlyseven Rotary Centres for International Studies in peace and conflictresolution.

This year marks the completion of the first year of studyfor Bradford Rotary World Peace Scholars, who have completed one of theUniversitys internationally renowned MA courses in Peace Studies, ConflictResolution, or International Relations and Security Studies.

After completing the MA course at Bradford, the Rotary WorldPeace Scholars then study for a MPhil by research in an area related to theiroccupation.

Rotary International (RI) President Jonathan Majiyagbe willopen the celebration and keynote speakers will include past RI President andChairman of Trustees Jim Lacy, and Celebration Chairman Allan Jagger. ThePresidential Celebrations will also provide opportunities for networking andshared learning through plenary discussion and the Rotary World Peace Scholarswill give audiovisual presentations including examples of field study work.

The Universitys department of Peace Studies Professor PaulRogers will address current world conflict issues. Professor Rogers said: TheUniversitys Department of Peace Studies is already the world's largestuniversity Centre for research and courses on peace studies and conflictresolution.

With Rotary World PeaceScholars having been carefully selected for their expertise and coming from allareas of the globe, they bring a wealth of global experience in conflictresolution, voluntary work and peace studies to the Department. The studentsarrived at Bradford from a wide range of occupational backgrounds, adding afurther dimension to their experiences, and to which they will return takingwith them the skills taught in the programme.

Celebration Chairman Allan Jagger added: The outcome for Rotary is the programme. The outcome of the programme is people, theRotary World Peace Scholars. I believethey will make a difference after graduating from this educational programme ofThe Rotary Foundation as they will have gained the knowledge to influencepeople in making our world - and that of our children and grandchildren - asafer place to live.

Monica Alfred from SriLanka is one of the Bradford Rotary World Peace Scholars who will be present atthe conference.Monica said: "Learning about peace is not as difficult asfacing a war. But it is very important for me that I take the learning fromBradford to my fieldwork in Sri Lanka. The growth of violence in the worldconstantly challenges my efforts to help people combat violence. So the courseis a good opportunity to upgrade my knowledge and skills on peacebuilding."

The conference will begin at 11am with a buffet lunch andwill finish with a Gala Banquet at the Hilton Hotel in the evening startingat 7.45pm.

Anyone wishingto attend the conference can contactDon Carsley on 01446 730669.Fees are 11 for the conference and buffet lunch and 30 for the GalaDinner for both Rotary members and non-rotarians.

For moreinformation on the conference or to download a registration form, please visit www.ribi.org/6_news/bradfordconf.htm

Notes for Editors

Rotary is an organisation of business and professionalpersons united world-wide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage highethical standards in all vocations and help to build goodwill and peace in theworld. Its motto is: Service above Self.

Rotary International has 1.2 million members from 166countries, including 62,000 Rotary club members that belong to1,811 clubs inGreat Britain and Ireland. Thehumanitarian organisation will celebrate its centennial in 2005. For more information on RotaryInternational, visit www.rotary.org

Each Rotary World Peace Scholar is be funded by theRotary Foundation for the two-year programme. The Rotary Foundation awardsapproximately $3.5 million a year to support scholarships for study at theRotary Centres for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution.Funds have been raised by Rotary clubs throughout the world and through privateand corporate donations.

The seven universities selected to operate the RotaryCentres are: University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, Duke University and theUniversity of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA (jointly-hostedcentre); University of California-Berkeley, California, USA; Institut d'EtudesPolitiques de Paris, Paris, France; University of Queensland, Brisbane,Australia; International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan; and, Universidaddel Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

For furtherinformation on Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, pleasecontact Judith Diment on 01628 672965 or 07860 162313 or email judithdiment@aol.com

For furtherinformation on Rotary International in North America, Europe and Africa, pleasecontact Mary La Plante on 847-866-3208 or fax 847-866-8237 or email LaplantM@rotaryintl.org

To contact the University of Bradford Press Office, pleasetelephone Emma Scales in Corporate Communications on (01274) 233084/9 or 07879437986. Alternatively, e-mail press@bradford.ac.uk or fax on (01274) 236280.

This press release isavailable at www.bradford.ac.uk/pressreleases