CERAH offers varied and flexible training to professionals active in the humanitarian sector.

CERAH’s courses improve humanitarian professionals’ wider knowledge and understanding of the issues they face, and help them develop appropriate responses to contemporary humanitarian challenges.

CERAH’s courses allow students to obtain :

• a solid, theoretical and multidisciplinary basis from which to better understand and analyse the stakes and dilemmas of contemporary humanitarian practice: Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) and Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS)
  
  
• specialist knowledge and key skills required to improve intervention strategies: Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) and Thematic Seminars (TS)
  

To meet the specific needs of humanitarian professionals, CERAH offers training that provides :

		Theory and Practice • Courses designed for experienced humanitarian workers • Teaching based on active learning methods that draw on students’ own experience and skills • Lectures and seminars delivered by academics and a wide range of experts from partner NGOs and international organisations
		Recognised Professional Qualification • Focused on competencies • Of varied duration and objectives:  MAS, DAS, CAS • With flexible timing: teaching modules can be accumulated over 3 to 5 years

Teaching takes place in English. French-language students may take written tests in French and write their research report in French.

Humanitarian professionals and continuing education

A 2010 survey of current and former CERAH students found a broad consensus on why humanitarian professionals embarked on further training. Four reasons stood out:

	The desire to step back from professional routine, in order to acquire a wider vision of humanitarian action in a multicultural context.
	The perceived need to acquire theoretical knowledge and tools from other disciplines to achieve better responses to the complex challenges of humanitarian emergencies. Geneva was regarded as offering exceptional opportunities to achieve this goal.
	The opportunity to obtain a post-graduate qualification, that was multidisciplinary and bilingual from a prestigious and internationally recognised university.
	The aim to begin a career in humanitarian organisations (for students who were contemplating a career change), or to improve career prospects for those already working in the field.

CERAH’s training program allows students to design their own study plan in order to meet their personal objectives, while being part of a dynamic learning community.

CERAH’s educational offer at a glance

The Master in Advanced Studies (MAS) in Humanitarian Action is a 10 - 12-month, full-time course of 60 ECTS credits allowing professionals to take a step back from their current activities, reflect on their experience and apply a critical analysis to it drawing on their existing skills.

Teaching on the MAS is multidisciplinary and interactive, with a special focus on the dynamic between emergency and development aid. Case studies and analyses of armed conflicts, 'natural' catastrophes and social exclusion - the three key sources of humanitarian disasters - are carried out throughout the course in seminars and lectures.

The Diploma in Advanced Studies (DAS) in Humanitarian Action is a full-time course of 30 ECTS. It allows humanitarian professionals to reflect on their professional experience and gain new insights and analysis skills. The DAS is constituted of 13 intensive weeks of courses and a research paper.

The Certificates in Advanced Studies (CAS) in Humanitarian Action offer professionals the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and skills in particular areas of humanitarian action.

In 2013 there will be a choice of six specialised courses, each lasting seven weeks and being credited with 10 ECTS.