On February 5, a very special part of their studies came to an end for 36 students at the University of Innsbruck: 29 female and seven male students from 16 nations took on the “Native Challenge” from February 1 to 5. The program is a cooperation between the Research Center for Peace and Conflict Research and the Tyrolean Military Command. The aim is to give the students as realistic a picture as possible of conflict management in crisis areas.
“We Austrian soldiers value peace as a valuable asset. We have learned from our missions abroad that peace cannot be taken for granted and that it is a tough task to create and maintain peace,” explains Brigadier General Ingo Gstrein. The military commander of Tyrol is responsible for the military contribution to the program. The soldiers give participants in the “Peace, Development, Security and International Conflict Transformation” course an insight into the world of military forces and life in crisis areas. By drawing on military real estate, experience and knowledge, a fictitious crisis region is created that enables participants to gain personal experience in international peace work. University Director Wolfgang Dietrich considers the training landscape and opportunities created by the armed forces to be a decisive criterion for success. “The experiences and adventures that we offer together with the Austrian Armed Forces are unique in the world. Without the support of the Austrian Armed Forces, training at this level would certainly not be possible,” explains the Head of the Research Center for Peace and Conflict Research. Due to the coronavirus, the training managers of the “Native Challenge” are relying on remote teaching and distance learning this year. “The Austrian Armed Forces will not allow adverse circumstances to deter them from their commitment to peaceful coexistence in and around Austria,” says Brigadier Gstrein. Together with Wolfgang Dietrich, the military commander gives a positive summary of the training that took place. “Despite all the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, it was important for us to carry out the training. We managed to provide our students with valuable experience and knowledge,” says Dietrich with satisfaction. Gstrein and Dietrich are certain that graduates trained in this way will make an important contribution to peace and conflict transformation.
