Rich and varied encounters

A striking feature of CERAH's students is the large variety of first-hand experience of humanitarian emergency response they bring with them.   

In recent years students attending CERAH’s courses have had experience of working in many crisis affected countries, for example in Chad/Darfur, Congo, Burundi, Ivory Coast, the Middle East and the Caucasus.  Many worked on humanitarian projects responding to natural disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami or the recent earthquakes in Armenia, Iran and Haiti. Others experienced responses to public health crises such as famine and the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. The great wealth of experience of its students is one of the key attractions of CERAH’s courses.      

What do CERAH alumni do after graduating?

Most CERAH alumni rejoin the organisation they were working for before coming to CERAH.  Some obtain a post in an international organisation, occasionally even before they have formally obtained their degree.  Others are offered promotions within their organisations or are recruited for field missions.

Alumni have noted the following, key benefits resulting from their experiences at CERAH:

• Acquisition of relevant expertise
• Increased chances on the job market
• Academic diploma valued by (future) employers
• Improved relations with counterparts in the field

^{(From a study of students and former students in 2010)}

^{(Organisations internationales et ONG dans le domaine de l’humanitaire)}

What CERAH alumni say about the MAS :

• Develops analytical and research skills
• Improves knowledge of the aims, role and operations of humanitarian organisations
• Improves understanding of challenges in implementing humanitarian aid and the search for solutions
• Brings sharper awareness of the dilemmas of humanitarian action, hidden agendas and the politics of aid

A majority of the students who replied to the questionnaire appreciated in particular:

• The multidisciplinary teaching combined with the variety of disciplines and professional experience brought by the students;
• The teaching methods, especially interactive and varied approaches which stimulate thought and debate;
• The quality of the courses, the wealth of their content and the multicultural environment.