Geneva Centre for education and research in humanitarian action
Graduates of the Master of Advanced Studies in Humanitarian Action 2009-2010 with Professor Jean-Daniel Rainhorn, Director of CERAH
Geneva Centre for education and research in humanitarian action
The causes of humanitarian crises are numerous, complex and usually specific. Political, social and ethnic tension may lead to conflict. Natural risks, environmental degradation and climate change, social and economic collapse, food crises, the plunder of natural resources, growing intolerance, and human rights abuse are some of the main factors, usually linked to each other, that precipitate humanitarian catastrophes. Over one quarter of the world’s population is excluded from growing global wealth, scientific and technological advance, improved health and nutrition, education and the information and communications revolution. The lives of these people are extremely precarious and the slightest event can precipitate absolute misery and total insecurity, irrespective of their country of residence.
The complexity of crises means that they can no longer be addressed by “turnkey” projects; each situation calls for a specific humanitarian response. The Geneva Centre for education and research in humanitarian action (CERAH) meets this professional challenge by offering multi-disciplinary, bilingual (English-French) post-graduate training in the multicultural environment of Geneva’s international community.
CERAH offers four types of training
- Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in humanitarian action over one or two years (60 ECTS credits)
- Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in humanitarian action over 12 weeks (16 ECTS credits)
- Thematic seminars and case studies of one week (1.5 or 2 ECTS credits)
- Short training courses in the field in partnership with local universities and humanitarian organisations
.... to a multicultural student body with professional experience
The humanitarian education offered by CERAH is for experienced professionals with an academic qualification following at least four years of study. Students are mainly humanitarian actors (NGOs, international organisations, etc.), staff of organisations working on the relief of poverty and exclusion, and professionals wishing to change their career paths or to improve their knowledge of the humanitarian field.
