Postgraduate programme in Humanitarian Action

The number of crisis and catastrophe situations that affect populations is increasing. Humanitarian Action can not only focus on responding to crisis situations but also seek to develop programmes that can reduce the vulnerability of populations and minimize the impact of those situations. For this to happen, it is necessary to have a holistic understanding of situations, for which it is necessary to master different areas of knowledge.

This Postgraduate programme in Humanitarian Action actively involves the areas of knowledge of the four Schools at ISCTE-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa and aims to offer an integrative vision of the challenges that are posed to Humanitarian Action in the 21st century. It allows students to find solutions that result from an integrated reflection of Social Sciences, Public Policies, Technology and Management.

This postgraduate programme consists of a set of fundamental curricular units, which allow the fulfillment of its objectives, but also the possibility to personalize the knowledge outcome through a set of elective curricular units, allowing students to deepen their knowledge in specific areas of humanitarian action.

Goals of the Postgraduate Programme in Humanitarian Action

The Graduate Programme in Humanitarian Action from ISCTE-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa intends to provide its students:

  • Sound academic training in the area of ​​disaster prevention, preparedness, response and recovery in situations of disaster, emergency or ongoing humanitarian action
  • Multidisciplinary training focused on the capacity for critical analysis and development of responses/solutions to situations of catastrophe, emergency or ongoing humanitarian action
  • Space, with academic support, for reflection and sharing of experiences

Topics Included

Courses

This postgraduate course in Humanitarian Action comprises the following courses:

Mandatory courses:

  • Concepts, Fundaments and Challenges in Humanitarian Action
  • Management in Humanitarian Action
  • Social Sciences in Humanitarian Action
  • International Politics and Geopolitics
  • Human Rights and Legal Dimensions in Humanitarian Action
  • Public Health in Humanitarian Action

Electives:

  • Cultural Differences and Intercultural Communication in Humanitarian Action
  • Project Management in Humanitarian Action
  • Logistics Management in Humanitarian Action
  • Leadership and Team Management in Humanitarian Action
  • Marketing and Fundraising
  • Strategy in Humanitarian Action
  • Contemporary International Migrations
  • Conflict Negotiation and Mediation
  • International Cooperation in Africa
  • Refugees, human rights and reception: national and international perspectives
  • Super-Diversity in Contemporary Society
  • Communication and rescue support systems in Humanitarian Action
  • Energy Systems
  • Humanitarian Urbanism and the collaborative processes

The effective list of electives that is made available annually is defined from this total list of electives.

Faculty

  • Dr Alexandra Paio
  • Dr Ana Lúcia Martins
  • Dr Ana Lúcia Sá
  • Dr Ana Simaens
  • Dr Ana Passos
  • Dr Charlotte Oliveira
  • Dr Cláudia Pereira
  • Dr Constança Urbano de Sousa
  • Dr Joana Azevedo
  • Dr Miguel Vale de Almeida
  • Dr Paulo Pedroso
  • Dr Pedro Sebastião
  • Dr Raquel Freitas

Teaching-Learning Methods

This Postgraduate programme in Humanitarian Action involves faculty with experience in the topics. The teaching-learning process, besides lectures, promotes the active involvement of the participants either in the discussion of topics in class or in the approach to practical cases.

Target Audience

The target audience of this postgraduate program consists of:

  • Professionals working in humanitarian or development organizations who wish to broaden their competence in the field of humanitarian action and reflect on their own experiences;
  • Professionals working in public bodies linked to disaster support or ongoing support who wish to deepen their knowledge in the area of ​​humanitarian action and reflect on their experiences;
  • Professionals from other sectors or people in general who wish to acquire competencies in the area of ​​humanitarian action, its challenges and possible responses.

Requirements

To apply:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree in any area of ​​study

During the program:

  • Participate in class discussion

Selection and seriation criteria

  1. Academic performance – 50%
    • Average from the bachelor’s degree – 70%
    • Has completed a postgraduate programme – 10%
    • Has completed a master or a PhD programme – 10%
    • Has other training in the topic – 10%cademic competences – 50%
  2. Professional experience and other activities – 40%
    • 16-20: works or worked in an institution of humanitarian action or participated in more than one international humanitarian mission or coordinated at least one international humanitarian mission
    • 14-18: works or worked in an institution indirectly related to humanitarian action or participated in an international humanitarian mission or in more than one national mission or coordinated a national humanitarian mission
    • 10-14: involvement in short-term social support actions or on a national humanitarian mission or coordinated social support actions
    • 0-10: with professional experience in other areas or carried out other activities
  3. Motivation – 10%

Applicants who meet the conditions of access will be evaluated on a scale of 0 (zero) to 20 (twenty) points in each of the indicated criteria. In case of a tie between candidates, the tiebreaker criterion is the date and time of submission of the application in the platform, with the oldest date and time being preferred. Candidates with a final grade of less than 12.0 will move to the next phase of applications until the last phase. In the last phase of the application, if they have not been admitted in the meantime, the candidates will receive the status of substitute. Approved candidates who are not admitted due to lack of vacancies have the status of substitutes and can enter the cycle of studies in case of non-registration of an admitted candidate for the academic year to which the application reports.

Teaching language: Portuguese

Fee: 2500 euros

Hours: Monday to Friday, from 18:00 to 22:00, every other week

Application calendar:

  • 1st phase: from 15-01-2019 to 25-02-2019
  • 2nd phase: from 26-03-2019 to 06-05-2019
  • 3rd phase: from 21-05-2019 to 15-07-2019
  • 4th phase: from 06-08-2019 to 02-09-2019

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