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UNITAR Online Learning

Each summer, the Kroc Institute partners with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), to offer a free thematic Online Learning Journey that allows undergraduate students to benefit from UNITAR's expertise in, and mandate to support, global peacebuilding.

Utilizing a combination of self-guided online courses, dedicated webinars with UN experts, and personal reflection within the context of a peer learning community, students can explore key themes related to peacebuilding, conflict, and global leadership. Students who are not part of the peace studies program will gain a strong introduction on UN and multilateral approaches to a pressing global issue, while those students pursuing a peace studies major or minor can use the opportunity to deepen their knowledge on a particular aspect of the UN's peacebuilding efforts.

There are no fees associated with this opportunity. The Kroc Institute sponsors all of the costs associated with hosting this course, making it a free professional development opportunity for interested undergraduates.

Global Climate Action: Building Knowledge, Skills, and Impact
June 15, 2026 - August 14, 2026

The experience consists of three program modules—Module 1: Introduction to Climate Change and Climate Crises, Module 2: Multilateral Responses to Climate Change and Climate, and the Cross-Cutting Module: Explore Your Changemaker Potential. Each module begins with several self-guided, self-paced, and fully online courses. Each module concludes with a live interactive webinar designed to consolidate insights and foster the exchange of ideas between experts and students. Participants will also have the ability to engage in Network4Peace, the UNITAR online community of practice.

Eligibility

Any Notre Dame undergraduate student may apply for this experience. Students from all class years and majors are eligible, regardless of their knowledge or familiarity with peace studies, although ideal participants are those with an interest in peace studies, development, or global affairs as well as the thematic topic of the Learning Journey. We recommend that all students take IIPS 20101 Introduction to Peace Studies either before or after completing the Learning Journey, but it is not required in order to apply.

Requirements

Students must have reliable internet connection for the time period of the experience, and if selected to participate, they must commit to completing the self-guided courses within the allotted time and to participating actively in each joint webinar session. Any selected student who withdraws from the experience after committing (for reasons that can be avoided) will be ineligible to apply for the Kroc Institute's UNITAR programs the following year. While representing the Institute or the University, students must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the University mission and the missions of the Keough School of Global Affairs and the Kroc Institute.

Deadline: 5:00 pm on April 27, 2026  NEW Extended Deadline: 11:59 pm on May 3, 2026

To apply, complete and submit the UNITAR Online Learning Application. In addition to collecting information about your class year and majors, the application form will ask you to answer the following questions related to your interset in the program:

• (200 words) Why do you want to do an online Learning Journey through the Kroc Institute and UNITAR?

• (200 words) How does the topic of this particular Learning Journey relate to your academic and professional interests?

Questions and Advising

If you have questions about the program or the application process, please book an advising appointment or contact Anna K. Van Overberghe, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies at the Kroc Institute, at avanove1@nd.edu.