Disaster and Humanitarian Aid (DEVT90058)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | May |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject focuses on current debates and practices in the field of emergency relief in crisis situations, including both so-called ‘natural’ disasters and human-made disasters, such as armed conflict (or a combination thereof). It explores some of the major challenges and dilemmas of providing assistance in these complex contexts. We will embed humanitarian aid in a broader spectrum of preparedness, early response, relief, rehabilitation and longer-term development. On a more fundamental level, we will question how ‘exceptional’ these emergencies really are, by embedding their causes and consequences in the broader, structural background of vulnerability and resilience.
Intended learning outcomes
This subject provides a specialized contribution to the first mentioned learning objective of the Development Studies Degree, namely to understand current practice and thinking about development.
More specifically, the learning objectives of this subject are as follows. On successful completion of this subject, students should:
- be able to understand the policy trends and debates in the humanitarian sector;
- have a concrete sense of what crises situations may look like in practice;
- understand causes of contemporary emergencies and the need to understand these against more a structural background of resilience and vulnerability;
- be able to engage with contemporary critiques of humanitarian practice and underlying questions of evidence; and
- be able to take well-argued position in these debates in verbal discussions and an authoritatively written essay.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should have:
- the ability to analyze crises situations, their causes and dynamics and think through possible interventions;
- the ability to shift perspective between academic and policy perspectives and to treat the knowledge, language and workings of both realms at their own merit, and identify tensions and connections between them; and
- the ability to construct coherent and convincing arguments about development interventions.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- A 2,000-word practical assignment focussed on a pressing current policy issue to do with humanitarian crisis (40%), due immediately after the teaching period.
- A 3,000-word argumentative essay on a pertinent policy or academic debate with regard to humanitarian aid (60%), due three weeks after the conclusion of the teaching period.
- Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend 100% of classes in order to pass this subject and regular class participation is expected.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- May
Principal coordinator Bart Klem Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total 24 Hours - 6 x 4 hour seminars taught intensively over six days Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 4 May 2018 to 25 May 2018 Last self-enrol date 8 May 2018 Census date 11 May 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 1 June 2018 Assessment period ends 11 June 2018
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
This subject is taught intensively, beginning in September.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation 150 Point Master of Development Studies Informal specialisation Gender and Development Specialisation - 200 point program Informal specialisation Gender and Development Specialisation - 100 point program Informal specialisation 100 Point Master of Development Studies Informal specialisation 200 Point Master of Development Studies Informal specialisation Gender and Development Specialisation - 150 Point program - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 3 November 2022