Established 1998 Website www.cerahgeneve.ch | Director Doris Schopper Founded 1998 | |
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Academic affiliation University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies Location Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland Similar Geneva Academy of Internat, Graduate Institute of Internatio, Geneva School of Diplomac, University of Geneva, University of St Gallen | ||
The Geneva Centre for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action (French: Centre d'enseignement et de recherche en action humanitaire de Genève) (CERAH) offers a wide variety of postgraduate level courses adapted to the needs of humanitarian professionals. A joint Centre of the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, CERAH is firmly anchored in Geneva’s rich academic environment. It is one of the few institutes dedicated to the study of humanitarian action with modular and flexible academic training programmes, distance or residential ones, with possibility to get a scholarship.
Contents
- History
- Master of Advanced Studies in Humanitarian Action
- Diploma of Advanced Studies in Humanitarian Action
- Distance Learning Programme
- Certificate of Advanced Studies
- Research
- Encyclopedia of Humanitarian Action
- References
The Centre aims to strengthen the competencies of professionals working in the humanitarian sector. Its programmes allow participants to develop a strong understanding of various conceptual and operational aspects of humanitarian action and equip them to define and implement strategic humanitarian responses.
Besides an advanced masters programme in humanitarian action, the institute offers a number of training programmes ranging from one-week thematic seminars to seven-week certificate courses. CERAH’s current educational offer encompasses eight postgraduate programmes (a master programme, diploma and five certificate courses) and several one-week intensive seminars on specific issues. In addition, CERAH offers a distance-learning course in designing strategies and projects for humanitarian action, which allows participants to study and learn from their own context, without having to be in Geneva. During the course students develop an action plan, which they can directly implement in their work situation. In addition in May 2015, CERAH launched its first Massive Open Online Course on Humanitarian Communications, in partnership with the University of Geneva.
Humanitarian studies lies at the crossroads of various disciplines. As a result, CERAH promotes a multi-disciplinary approach to learning, and draws on the expertise of a range of academics and practitioners.
CERAH also undertakes critical research that aims to assess concepts, policies and responses in order to improve humanitarian responses.
History
CERAH was founded in 1998 with the support of the University of Geneva and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Its existence is a testimony to the gradual and collective effort of the past 15 years bringing together a multitude of academic and humanitarian actors. The Centre underwent several phases of transformation. At the time of its establishment, it was known as the Multifaculty Programme for Humanitarian Action (PPAH) and only offered a university diploma. It was set up to provide high-level, continuing university education to humanitarian practitioners. The Centre was radically transformed in 2004, following its partnership with the Institute for Development Studies. Renamed as the Interdisciplinary Programme in Humanitarian Action (PIAH), it introduced an advanced masters programme in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Suisse. A reform process in 2008 led to the creation of CERAH, as we know it today. Changes at the international level as well as in the academic and humanitarian fields led the Geneva university community to envisage a more ambitious role for CERAH. In subsequent years, particularly after 2011, under the new leadership of Professor Doris Schopper, CERAH revised its postgraduate educational offer to better respond to the needs of humanitarian organisations and professionals. It led to the development of eight postgraduate degrees (1 MAS, 1 DAS, 5 CAS) and several one-week intensive seminars on specific issues.
Master of Advanced Studies in Humanitarian Action
The MAS in Humanitarian Action is a 10- to 12-month full-time programme of 60 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits. The programme is focused on building in-depth understanding of the central conceptual and operational aspects of humanitarian action. Teaching is multidisciplinary and interactive.
The multidisciplinary programme comprises three parts:
Since 2012 the MAS in Humanitarian Action is offered (in its current form) to international managers in the humanitarian and development sector (with at least 2 years of working experience and holding a higher education institution degree), wishing to deepen their competencies in specific areas and add an academic and analytical dimension to their professional skills. It is delivered in English. It can be completed in up to three years.
This programme was awarded unconditional accreditation by the Swiss Center of Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education (AAQ).
Diploma of Advanced Studies in Humanitarian Action
The Diploma of Advanced Studies in Humanitarian Action is a four-month programme comprising 30 ECTS credits. Through the study of major humanitarian crises past and present, participants will acquire the tools needed to analyse, understand, and engage in critical reflection on the response to humanitarian emergencies today.
The core course is divided in 3 modules that have specific objectives:
Module 1: Analyse the past and present historical, geopolitical and legal context of humanitarian crises and humanitarian responses.
Module 2: Analyse contemporary humanitarian responses and specific humanitarian issues in order to reflect on lessons learned.
Module 3: Analyse the current and future challenges and dilemmas by examining cross cutting issues in order to adapt humanitarian responses.
Academics and experts from a wide range of NGOs and international organisations deliver lectures. The programme is highly participatory, based on case studies and discussions.
Distance Learning Programme
CERAH offers an eight-month distance-learning programme in designing strategies and projects in humanitarian action, which comprises 15 ECTS. The course enhances the capacity of individual and institutional humanitarian actors to devise and implement effective humanitarian responses.
Specifically adapted to the needs of working humanitarian professionals, this course allows participants to study and learn from their own context. During the course students develop an action plan, which they can directly implement in their work situation. The programme is fairly autonomous where students develop their own learning objectives based on current challenges. At the end of the programme participants develop relevant competencies to design and adapt humanitarian strategies and projects according to the specifics of each context. The course will involve e-learning, a residential session in Kampala/Jinja (Uganda) and individual coaching.
CERAH devised the Humanitarian Distance Learning programme to increase access to training particularly for national staff as well as to allow the students to study from their own context.
Certificate of Advanced Studies
CERAH also offers a number of seven-week 10-ECTS certificate courses. The aim of these courses is to provide skills and competencies in specific fields such as management, communication, advocacy, health and law in the context of humanitarian action.
List of certificate courses available:
In addition several weeks among the certificate courses are open to external candidates. In other words, instead of pursuing the entire seven-week programme, candidates can choose to attend a week within the certificate course. These one-week courses are called thematic seminars. A list of thematic seminars is available on the CERAH website.
Research
CERAH staff conducts research on a range of themes linked to humanitarian action including health, law, protracted crises and political economy of humanitarian crises.
Encyclopedia of Humanitarian Action
The Encyclopedia of Humanitarian Action is a new project from the CERAH—the Geneva Centre for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action—to explore the different ways key humanitarian concepts are understood across space, time, and disciplines. The concepts covered are selected through a consultative process involving academics and humanitarian professionals. The research also includes a rigorous content analysis of key documents, to identify those concepts most referenced in humanitarian action.