Course Title: Humanitarian Action and Urban Crisis

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Humanitarian Action and Urban Crisis

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Coordinator: TBC

Course Coordinator Phone: TBC

Course Coordinator Email: TBC


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

 

This is an external online course offered by Oxford Brookes University, UK. Additional costs are involved not included in RMIT tuition fees.

The course deals with the major global concern of sudden crises in urban spaces caused by various phenomena such as natural disasters, conflicts arising from social and economic discontent, bad governance, and terrorism. You will learn to understand that whatever the causes and whichever form crises take, populations suffer serious damage - physically, spatially, socially, psychologically or symbolically. Given that with rampant urbanisation new forms of vulnerabilities have appeared, forcing people to increasingly settle in unstable, dangerous, extreme, or fragile environments, you will understand that focussing on urban spaces becomes increasingly important for the efficiency of humanitarian actions.

Of specific emphasis in the course is how conflicts impact the way people produce, understand, and inhabit spaces and places. During a conflict or in the case of imposed displacement, forced migrants, fighters, or the civilian population are forced to rebuild socialised spaces either in areas void of any a priori social significance such as camps, or areas from which they feel excluded. Understanding such a context, you will gain knowledge on rebuilding social links and re-inscribing solidarities in meaningful spaces in a way that makes collective life possible again. You will learn about specific tools for developing humanitarian programmes in urban environments and about action research methods to develop specific issues related to urban settings and specificities of humanitarian projects.    


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

 

Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate critical awareness of the consequences of crises on urban environments.
  • Assess the specificities of humanitarian programmes in urban environments.
  • Develop specific tools for humanitarian projects in urban environments.
  • Demonstrate ability to listen actively and creatively, and sensitively apply innovative points of view.
  • Undertake analysis of complex or contradictory areas of knowledge, communicating the outcome effectively.
  • Develop action research and self-reflective practice.



Overview of Learning Activities

 

In this course you will have the opportunity to:

  • Engage with lectures online.
  • Join discussion groups.
  • Explore issues related to your work experiences.
  • Do exercises on line.    


Overview of Learning Resources

 

Oxford Brookes University will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through online systems.

A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your instructor, including books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.

The University Library has extensive resources for students.  The Library has produced a subject guide that includes quality online and print resources for your studies.

The Library provides guides on academic referencing: http://www.rmit.edu.au/library/referencing and subject specialist help via your Liaison Librarian.

Additionally a list of recommended learning resources will be provided, including books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.

The University Library has extensive resources for students. The Library has produced a subject guide that includes quality online and print resources for your studies.

The Library provides guides on academic referencing: http://www.rmit.edu.au/library/referencing and subject specialist help via your Liaison Librarian.    


Overview of Assessment

 

Assessment includes an essay, group exercises, online journal and weekly discussion fora. The assessment may be done individually and in teams. You will be encouraged strongly to collaborate with the other students in the course.

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes.