Geneva Centre for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action
| Geneva Centre for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action | |
|---|---|
| French: Centre d'enseignement et de recherche en action humanitaire de Genève | |
| Established | 1998 |
| Academic affiliation | University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies |
| Location | Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland |
| Director | Doris Schopper |
| Website | www.cerahgeneve.ch |
The Geneva Centre for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action (French: Centre d'enseignement et de recherche en action humanitaire de Genève) (CERAH) offers a wide variety of postgraduate level courses adapted to the needs of humanitarian professionals. A joint Centre of the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, CERAH is firmly anchored in Geneva’s rich academic environment. It is one of the few institutes dedicated to the study of humanitarian action with modular and flexible academic training programmes, distance or residential ones, with possibility to get a scholarship.
The Centre aims to strengthen the competencies of professionals working in the humanitarian sector. Its programmes allow participants to develop a strong understanding of various conceptual and operational aspects of humanitarian action and equip them to define and implement strategic humanitarian responses.
Besides an advanced masters programme in humanitarian action, the institute offers a number of training programmes ranging from one-week thematic seminars to seven-week certificate courses. CERAH’s current educational offer encompasses eight postgraduate programmes (a master programme, diploma and five certificate courses) and several one-week intensive seminars on specific issues. In addition, CERAH offers a distance-learning course in designing strategies and projects for humanitarian action, which allows participants to study and learn from their own context, without having to be in Geneva. During the course students develop an action plan, which they can directly implement in their work situation. In addition in May 2015, CERAH launched its first Massive Open Online Course on Humanitarian Communications, in partnership with the University of Geneva.
Humanitarian studies lies at the crossroads of various disciplines. As a result, CERAH promotes a multi-disciplinary approach to learning, and draws on the expertise of a range of academics and practitioners.
CERAH also undertakes critical research that aims to assess concepts, policies and responses in order to improve humanitarian responses.
CERAH was founded in 1998 with the support of the University of Geneva and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Its existence is a testimony to the gradual and collective effort of the past 15 years bringing together a multitude of academic and humanitarian actors. The Centre underwent several phases of transformation. At the time of its establishment, it was known as the Multifaculty Programme for Humanitarian Action (PPAH) and only offered a university diploma. It was set up to provide high-level, continuing university education to humanitarian practitioners. The Centre was radically transformed in 2004, following its partnership with the Institute for Development Studies. Renamed as the Interdisciplinary Programme in Humanitarian Action (PIAH), it introduced an advanced masters programme in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Suisse. A reform process in 2008 led to the creation of CERAH, as we know it today. Changes at the international level as well as in the academic and humanitarian fields led the Geneva university community to envisage a more ambitious role for CERAH. In subsequent years, particularly after 2011, under the new leadership of Professor Doris Schopper, CERAH revised its postgraduate educational offer to better respond to the needs of humanitarian organisations and professionals. It led to the development of eight postgraduate degrees (1 MAS, 1 DAS, 5 CAS) and several one-week intensive seminars on specific issues.
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