GAP-project represented in IAPTC Conference in Cairo

Gaming for Peace Consortium is currently represented by Laurea University in IAPTC (International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centres) Conference in Cairo, Eqypt. GAP representatives contribute by leading the discussions about improved online training targeted for the personnel to be deployed in complex peacebuilding environments.

More information about the conference: 23rd Annual Conference Of IAPTC, Cairo, Egypt – 2017 (www.egypt.iaptc2017.org) The 23rd Annual Conference of the IAPTC will be held in Cairo, Egypt, from 11-14 September 2017. The Conference is being organized by the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) –Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs–in partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Defense and the Egyptian Ministry of Interior.

Crisis Management Initiative (CMI): New dialogue eases tensions in Moldova: “This is a breakthrough”

New cooperation between legislators has helped ease tensions in Moldova. The improvement in center-autonomy relations highlights the importance of settling disputes before they grow into open conflicts.

Read more about the topic at CMI’s website: 

http://cmi.fi/2017/08/11/new-dialogue-eases-tensions-moldova-breakthrough/

Female officers as a majority for the first time in an UN military observer course in Finland

For the first time in the United Nation’s Military Experts in Mission Course’s (UNMEM) history there were more female officers than male. In addition to this UNMEM 2-2017 was also training Military Advisors for high level positions in peacekeeping operations. The course was held in August by Finnish Defence Forces in Helsinki and Niinisalo. The participants represented 21 different nationalities from Europe, Asia, South-America and Africa.

 

More on the subject at Finnish Defence Forces International Centre’s web page at:

http://puolustusvoimat.fi/en/web/fincent/news/-/asset_publisher/extraordinary-unmem-course

A free, four week online course ‘Achieving Sustainable Development’ is launching on 11 September 2017

A free, four week online course ‘Achieving Sustainable Development’, developed by a collaboration of four Trinity College Dublin Schools launches on 11 September 2017. GAP data is used also in the course module on Peace building.

Read more:

http://www.tcd.ie/news_events/articles/trinity-launches-course-on-the-challenges-to-achieving-sustainable-development/8057

 

GAP at the Applied Human Factor and Ergonomics International Conference in Los Angeles

Cross-cultural aspects of the game and its design as such are an essential aspect of our work. Therefore, Dr. Kamila Trochowska from the War Studies University in Warsaw, discussed the premises of GAP and its cross-cultural aspects at the 8th Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics Conference that took place in Los Angeles, July 17-21, 2017. The conference objective is to provide an international forum for the dissemination and exchange of groundbreaking scientific information on theoretical, generic, and applied areas of human factors and ergonomics – and is the most significant interdisciplinary society gathering specialists from such diverse fields as cognitive computing, training and education, affective design, serious gaming, cyber security and decision-making, to mention just a few.

The poster: “Proteus Effect in Action: The Gaming for Peace Project” by Dr Trochowska and Principal Investigator Anne Holohan featured the basic premises, methodology and goals of the GAP project and the results of the recent research report performed by the author on the state of cross-cultural competence training for CPPB, and the prospects of applying them in serious gaming for the military and civilians. It was presented within the AHFE Cross-Cultural Decision-Making track that examines human cognition and its interplay with various cultural constructs, such as geographical, historical, sociological, and organizational cultures.

The project was discussed with researchers, scholars, and industry practitioners from diverse countries – from Japan to Australia – and of diverse backgrounds, including sociology, linguistics, business, military science, psychology, human factors, neuroscience, and education. The most interesting conclusion of the multidisiciplinary debates was the potential of applying a variety of game effectiveness assesment methods, including EEG and electromyography. That is one of the major tasks within the evaluatory WP 5 that we have just initiated. Stay tuned for the development!

More information on the conference at: http://ahfe2018.org/board.html#ccdm

From Scenarios to soft skills and competences needed in peacebuilding – Workshop was organised in Finland 6 June 2017

Personnel deployed on Conflict Prevention and Peace Building operations need to be equipped with the skills and knowledge to perform successfully from the start of their mission or operation. The GAP project has consulted experts in the field and reviewed documentation and identified gaps in training for the soft skills needed to perform successfully in EU missions. Based on all this analysis a multiple player online game, is currently under development in the GAP consortium. The Helsinki workshop is one of many building blocks needed, in order to make this game a success. The entire afternoon spent analyzing the scenarios and competences needed in complex crisis management situations. Everyone involved were clearly satisfied with their input and also, with the final outcome of the workshop.