MA Humanitarianism and Conflict Response / Course details

This course unit has three main aims. First, to examine displacement in detail in one specific context; second, it aims to examine the challenges of conducting research in a fragile setting. Finally, students will be asked to translate academic research into practice through the development of a reflection of humanitarian research and practice. This course aims to give fieldwork experience of humanitarianism in practice. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on how theoretical explorations of humanitarian response are operationalised in the real world for a population who have experienced prolonged displacement. From the structured readings and lectures you will gain a theoretical understanding and appreciation of displacement in a Less Developed Country - in Uganda in particular. You will be exposed to a critical discussion of these development challenges and the nature and form of interventions related to your programme of study. Uganda is particularly unique as it enables us to study refugees within a context of multiple research themes, the environment and climate change, mental health, citizenship and belonging, and gender-based sexual violence. We will examine these areas from a variety of perspectives, namely, policy makers, humanitarian practitioners and beneficiaries. Finally, students will explore their area of interest in a structured way through a combination of guest presentations, research focus groups and meetings with local organisations.

The course unit aims to give students an insight into research in a real-life setting; by teaching students the necessary skills to develop a small-scale research project. The course unit therefore goes hand-in-hand with the objectives of the Research and Evaluation Methods (REM) course unit and their post-graduate dissertation. Further, the module asks students to translate academic research into practice by developing a reflective piece on humanitarian research in Uganda.

This course unit has three main aims. First, to examine displacement in detail in one specific context; second, it aims to examine the challenges of conducting research in a fragile setting. Finally, students will be asked to translate academic research into practice through the development of a reflection of humanitarian research and practice.

1: Disorientations: Introducing the course, research visit and assessment; Refugees, Displacement and humanitarianism

2: Framing displacement in Uganda: Histories and Politics

3. Displacement and belonging

4: Humanitarianism and Gender Based Violence

5: Displacement and the Environment

6. Displacement and mental health: researcher and participant

7. Practicalities of researching humanitarian response: Research Projects and Ethics

8. Learning through discomfort: preparing for research in difficult contexts

9. Final Preparations, Conduct and Logistics Ten days research visit to Uganda

10. Guest lecturers - Displacement in Uganda from a Ugandan perspective

• Ten lectures in Semester
• Ten days research in Uganda

Students are encouraged to develop their theoretical understanding through guided individual reading and, in groups, to apply their knowledge and skills related to their own professional backgrounds and experiences. The preparation sessions will be based around taught content and class discussion to help students develop their ideas for coursework.

During research, students will visit a number of different humanitarian contexts which apply specifically to the Humanitarian and Conflict Response pathway in HCRI. These will include international, government and non-government organisations working with internally displaced persons and refugees in relation to justice and reconciliation, gender based violence, environmental scarcity, humanitarianism response and broader development goals.

If we are in situ in Uganda, at the beginning and end of each day in country, students will be briefed about the day’s activities and the ethical implications of conducting research in this particular setting. At the end of each day, students will attend an academic tutorial and be required to complete a personal, private journal to be used as evidence for their second assessment report.

Students will receive a follow-up session after the research to help them process their experiences and prepare for writing the report.

• Knowledge of the landscape for humanitarian interventions in Less Developed Countries (LDCs) with regards to conflict and displacement;
• Critical understanding of the way theory influences humanitarian interventions, practices and outcomes;
• Knowledge and understanding of the challenges of humanitarian response in a LDC

• Ability to competently identify and analyse selected humanitarian concepts and practices related to displacement and conflict and to evaluate their effectiveness;
• Skills to deploy approaches, concepts, methods and theories of humanitarianism to help explain the 'real-world' scenarios;
• Ability to explain the distinctive humanitarian experience of Uganda and the lessons we can draw from it.

• Plan, develop and execute a research project of humanitarianism in practice;
• Interrogate the ethics of research work in a fragile setting. Apply research skills learned in the Research and Evaluation Methods course unit to a real context.
• Demonstrate an ability to translate theory into practice.

• Understand how to translate theory and policy into a practical resource available for public consumption;
• Ability to interact and effectively communicate with various actors (donor agencies, policy makers, fellow professionals and lay communities) at various levels (local, district, national international) in Uganda;
• Team working skills especially: leadership skills; ability to organise oneself and others to accomplish tasks; sharing knowledge and managing differences.
• Translating research experiences and academic knowledge into a media output

• Oral feedback on individual research idea presentations
• Written feedback on assessment 1 and 2
• Additional one-to-one feedback (during consultation hour or by making an appointment)

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