DAS Humanitarian Action 2023

Drawing on history and various other disciplines, this DAS offers professionals a critical understanding of the humanitarian system and response and an ability to contextualise humanitarian action in today’s world.

Information

Period

September 2023 - December 2023
30 ECTS credits
200 Teaching hours
Around 750 hours of work for the whole Diploma, including: • App. 200 hours of face-to-face teaching (lectures, group work, round tables, debates, visits) • App. 425 hours of self-study time (e-learning modules, readings, assignments, videos, quizzes, etc.) • App. 125 hours for the DAS dissertation

Language

English

Format

On-site – switch over to online-learning if required

Contact

Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies
+41 (0)22 379 56 50
humanitarianstudies(at)unige.ch

Location

Genève

Registration

Registration deadline

31 May 2023
APPLICATION DEADLINE Excl. EU/EFTA citizens: 31 May / only EU/EFTA citizens: 30 June

Fees:

Total fees: CHF 8’000.-

Deposit (upon acceptance of admission): CHF 1'000.-

The payment of the registration fees can be made in several instalments. If registration fees are not paid before the beginning of the course, access to the programme will not be allowed. 

A limited number of scholarships - for tuition fees only - is available for this programme.

Contribution to the SDGs

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

Objectives

At the end of the course, participants will have developed a critical understanding of contemporary humanitarian action informed by academic scholarship, which will enable them to become better informed, and more aware and effective humanitarian practitioners, more autonomous in their decisions.

More specifically, at the end of this course, students will be able to:
• Understand the politico-historical foundations of humanitarianism, the changing nature of humanitarian crises and the various forms of humanitarian action
• Widen their conception of humanitarianism by acknowledging the existence of other philanthropic, charity and faith-based endeavours
• Understand the ethical, normative and legal aspects of humanitarianism including the overlap between humanitarianism, militarism and sanctions
• Identify the various actors of humanitarian action and understand the political economy of the field
• Conceptualise humanitarianism as a distinct mode of governing and understand its link with border control policies and security regimes

Audience

Professional in the humanitarian, development or social sector looking to develop their competencies as well as reflect and capitalise on their experiences
Professional from other sectors who wishes to increase their understanding of the humanitarian sector for a potential career change
Graduate student with relevant volunteer or intern experience, looking to undertake a postgraduate course with a view to entering the humanitarian sector

Programme

The course is divided in five modules:

  • M1: Humanitarianisms
  • M2: Contexts, Actions and Consequences
  • M3: Revisiting Vulnerability and Needs
  • M4: Humanitarian Governance, Norms and Principles
  • M5: The Humanitarians

The Diploma also includes the writing of a final dissertation to be presented by 31 January 2024.

 

Director(s)

Prof. Karl BLANCHET, Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies, a joint Centre of the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID), Geneva

Coordinator(s)

Prof. Julie BILLAUD, Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies, Geneva

Diploma delivered jointly by

University of Geneva, IHEID
The Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) aims to offer professionals a critical understanding of the humanitarian system and response learning from history and various other disciplines and an ability to contextualize humanitarian action in today’s world. It explores the role of humanitarianism in the way the world is governed today, as well as the political economy at play in relationships between States, non-State actors, international organisations, international and local non-governmental organizations and affected populations. Finally, the program addresses the postcolonial dynamics of past and present humanitarian interventions to identify new avenues for contemporary and future crises.

Pedagogical method

  • Lectures delivered by academics and experts
  • Intercultural classroom settings
  • Participatory programme

The DAS is taught in English. However, students are offered the alternative to take written tests and write their Diploma final paper in French.

Diploma awarded

Once the students successfully complete the Diploma of Advanced Studies in Humanitarian Action's full programme according to CERAH requirements, they obtain a joint degree delivered by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) and the University of Geneva (UNIGE), and accredited by the Swiss Agency for Accreditation and Quality Assurance (AAQ).

Admission criteria

For more details on the enrollment process visit this page.

Requirements

  1. a university qualification (bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
  2. at least three years of relevant professional experience;
  3. excellent command of English;
  4. motivation working in the humanitarian sector.

Admission process

Admission is based on the overall quality of the application, including academic achievement, quality of application documents, relevance of previous work experience and English language skills. The Selection Committee examines the quality of the applications and aims to reach a balance between the number of men and women, educational profiles and professional experience, geographical distribution and financial contribution.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Number of participants

The DAS is limited to 20 students per year.

Contribution to the SDGs

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

Les termes utilisés pour désigner des personnes sont pris au sens générique; ils ont à la fois la valeur d'un masculin et d'un féminin.