General provisions

The course on Conflict and Peacebuilding is only available to exchange students from partner universities in the Network on Humanitarian Action (NOHA) or to students who have been admitted to the Master's Programme in Humanitarian Action and Conflict.

Entry requirements

The course on Conflict and Peacebuilding is only available to exchange students from partner universities in the Network on Humanitarian Action (NOHA) or to students who have been admitted to the Master Programme in Humanitarian Action and Conflict.

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes of the module provide a conceptual and theoretical frame for the analysis of political, social and cultural dimensions of humanitarian disaster situations, with particular emphasis on conflict analysis and conflict resolution/peacebuilding. After the course the student is expected to have the following competences:

• an ability to apply the main schools of conflict theory and related concepts to concrete conflict and disaster situations in order to achieve a deep and broader understanding of such contexts;
• a broad understanding of the theory and practice of peace-building;
• an awareness of the everyday life of war and armed conflict and how it affects local populations, including an awareness of gender dimensions;
• an understanding of and sensitivity to cultural differences on individual and group levels and how this can affect the policies and implementation of humanitarian activities;
• an ability to conduct an independent analysis of a conflict;
• an ability to communicate advanced knowledge of conflict issues to a non-academic target group, both in oral and written format.

Content

The module focuses on: concepts and theories of conflict resolution; peacemaking/peacebuilding with specific relevance to humanitarian disaster situations; and the conditions and consequences of humanitarian action in conflict situations.

Instruction

The teaching on this campus course includes both lectures and seminars. Attendance at seminars and at least 75% of lectures is compulsory. Students who miss seminars must compensate this absence. In general, students who miss more than 25% of lectures must also compensate. However, students who are absent for substantially more than 25% of lectures must instead take part in lectures the next time the course is provided. Participation in all lectures is highly encouraged since the lectures facilitate reading and analysis of the course literature.

The language of instruction is English.

Assessment

The course is examined through written exams, papers, individual and group presentations.

Transitional provisions

Students on a course regulated by this syllabus have the right to be examined for up to two years after their course instance has ended, and in accordance with this syllabus. In exceptional circumstances, they may also be examined later. Normally, instruction will only be given according to the latest version of the course syllabus.