SGLK13016U Humanitarian Action in the 21st century: An introduction

Volume 2015/2016
Education

Master of Science in Global Health

Content

The humanitarian landscape is changing, challenging past decades of humanitarian action; closing the gap between population needs and humanitarian response requires new approaches and new paradigms. This course is designed to provide participants with an introduction to the theories and practices of humanitarian action in a global perspective: its historical and legal foundations, the international system in place to support it, different typologies of humanitarian crises, challenges and trends, as well as possible career paths in the field. The aim is to encourage research and critical reflection on humanitarian action and lessons learnt from contemporary humanitarian crises by providing participants with an overview of the historical, conceptual as well as operational aspects of humanitarian intervention.

Learning Outcome

At the end of the course participants should be able to:

• Describe the Nordic and international actors, organizations and systems in the field of humanitarian action;

• Analyze and discuss the various typologies of disasters and humanitarian responses (including wars, natural hazards, complex emergencies);

• Understand, evaluate and critique different types of humanitarian intervention (e.g. feeding programs, cluster approaches, rights based approaches, advocacy efforts, etc.);

• Critically examine the paradoxes and dilemmas of the changing humanitarian landscape through multiple perspectives and academic disciplines

• Build and sustain professional relationships and networks

This Masters level course is open to final-year Bachelors students.
None.
Blended
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 30
  • E-Learning
  • 30
  • Exam
  • 25
  • Excursions
  • 30
  • Exercises
  • 20
  • Total
  • 135
Credit
5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Course paper
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Exam period

Summer school. Final schedule to be confirmed.

Criteria for exam assesment

At the end of the course participants should be able to:

• Describe the Nordic and international actors, organizations and systems in the field of humanitarian action;

• Analyze and discuss the various typologies of disasters and humanitarian responses (including wars, natural hazards, complex emergencies);

• Understand, evaluate and critique different types of humanitarian intervention (e.g. feeding programs, cluster approaches, rights based approaches, advocacy efforts, etc.);

• Critically examine the paradoxes and dilemmas of the changing humanitarian landscape through multiple perspectives and academic disciplines

• Build and sustain professional relationships and networks