BSc International Disaster Management & Humanitarian Response / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Introduction to Disaster Management

Course unit fact file
Unit code HCRI11032
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 1
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? Yes

Overview

This course explores the multiple histories of humanitarianism and their resonances with current humanitarian discourses and practices. It introduces students to debates about the origins, institutions and key concepts in international humanitarianism.

Pre/co-requisites

Year 1, semester 2 core on BSc International Disaster Management and Conflict Response

Aims

· Explore different meanings of humanitarianism · Apply historical, legal and political perspectives in order to understand the origins, institutions and basic concepts of the contemporary international system · Deepen critical reasoning and intellectual curiosity · Strengthen written and oral communication skills · Engage critically with a range of academic literature to complete two tasks

Syllabus

 

Teaching and learning methods

The principal teaching and learning methods will be the lecture (an interactive experience) and the tutorial. These would be supplemented by guided and independent reading and assignments designed to encourage students to engage with course material in meaningful ways. The module will be Blackboard compliant.

Knowledge and understanding

· Understand key concepts around the history of humanitarian aid and the meaning of humanitarianism and apply this to a scholarship abstract.· Develop a critical understanding of the diverse origins of humanitarian relief work· Understand the long-term impact of this history in current humanitarian discourses and practices

Intellectual skills

· Critically engage with the literature on the history of humanitarianism · Develop awareness of current humanitarian affairs and their longer histories · Analyse and critique international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles though a short essay

Practical skills

· Demonstrate analytical and debating skills with peers and tutor· Demonstrate efficiency and creativity in writing · Apply research and critical reading skills learned in HCRI11071 on annotated bibliographies through the scholarship assessment. · Apply knowledge learned in HCRI11071 on effective use of library resources and search engine to gather information through the two assessments.

Transferable skills and personal qualities

· Develop communication skills for a variety of audiences· Develop, plan and achieve individual research outcomes · Develop analytical skills and the ability to articulate ideas verbally and in writing· Develop confidence articulating ideas and opinions during group discussions

Employability skills

Other
· Oral and communication skills – especially in terms of comprehending large amounts of information and drawing reasoned conclusions · Meeting deadlines · Working autonomously

Assessment methods

Scholarship Analysis: 600 words - 30%Essay outlines: 300 words - 0%Essay (from list): 1400 words - 70%

Feedback methods

Written feedback on assignments: SummativeVerbal feedback via 1 on 1 meetings with students: FormativeWritten feedback on essay outlines: Formative

Recommended reading

Baughan Emily and Juliano Fiori. ‘Save the Children, the Humanitarian Project, and the Politics of Solidarity: Reviving Dorothy Buxton's Vision,’ Disasters 39:S2 (2015):129-145. Barnett, Michael. Empire of Humanity: A History of Humanitarianism (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2011). Bayly, C. A., Vijayendra Rao, Simon Szreter, and Michael Woolcock. History, Historians and Development Policy: A Necessary Dialogue (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2011).Everill, Bronwyn and Josiah Kaplan (eds). The History and Practice of Humanitarian Intervention and Aid in Africa (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013). Fazal Tanisha. Wars of Law: Unintended Consequences in the Regulation of Armed Conflict (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2018) Ibhawoh Bonny, ‘Humanitarians and Abolitionists’ in Human Rights in Africa. New Approaches to African History (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018) Palmieri, Daniel. “An Institution Standing the Test of Time? A Review of 150 Years of the History of the International Committee of the Red Cross”, International Review of the Red Cross 94:888 (2012): 1-26. Salvatici Silvia. A history of humanitarianism, 1755-1989. In the name of others (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2019), 1-13.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 20
Seminars 10
Independent study hours
Independent study 170

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Antoine Burgard Unit coordinator
Luke Kelly Unit coordinator

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