Humanitarian Education

This course explores who are humanitarians and more specifically, humanitarian educators and what is humanitarian education in a globalised world.

This course will take an in-depth study of historical and current approaches to learning about these concepts—such as the Global Dimension, Service-Learning, Peace Education, Human Rights Education, and the International Federation of the Red Cross’ approach to humanitarian principles—in order to analytically critique common themes. 

Discussions will also include the role of ‘voice’ and ‘empowerment’ amongst youth as well as how to be a ‘humanitarian educator’ in the classroom, field, while working with young people, or through role-modelling.

This course aims to:

• Introduce students to key theoretical and historical concepts that have shaped humanitarianism
• Reflect on shifts amongst educational approaches to learning about humanitarian topics
• Engage critically with the concept of humanitarians as educators
• Develop critical analytical and research skills.

• Introduction: Humanitarian principles and education
• Who are humanitarian educators?
• Young people and humanitarianism
• Theoretical approaches to learning about humanitarian topics
• Humanitarian organisations supporting learning
• The role of empathy in humanitarian learning
• Barriers and challenges to engagement
• Being a humanitarian educator in your space.

An Upper Second Class Bachelor’s degree or the overseas equivalent is required, although each application is judged on its own merits and exceptions to this entry requirement may be made.

Students whose first language is not English are required to hold an overall score of IELTS 7.0 to include a writing score of 7.0, or an overall internet-based TOFEL text score of 100.

Intended learning outcomes of the programme – on completion students will:

• Gain a global understanding and historical overview of approaches to educating young people in humanitarian topics
• Identify and appraise the role of voice when working or researching with young people
• Distinguish between humanitarian organisations and their approaches to engaging with young people
• Formulate individual meaning for humanitarian learning
• Evaluate current approaches to humanitarian learning and critique their effectiveness.

All assessment will take place online and will be made up of the following:

• Discussion board contribution (10%)
• Practical application and reflective piece (30%)
• Essay outline (formative) 
• Essay 2,500 words (60%) 

The fees for this course are £1,000 (approximately $1248, please check current exchange rates)

Subject to a minimum number of students enrolling on this course, the Humanitarian Education CPD will begin on 14 March 2022 and will run for eight weeks followed by a two week assessment period (completed by 22 May 2022).

To register for the CPD unit, please complete the below form and send to salc-cpd@manchester.ac.uk;

• Humanitarian Education application form