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HACT40230

Academic Year 2024/2025

Intensive Humanitarian Action (HACT40230)

Subject:
Humanitarian Action
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Agriculture & Food Science
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Pat Gibbons
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The overall objective of this module is to give students who are setting out on their MSc Humanitarian Action journey a rich appreciation of the history, mission, principles, and disparate values of key humanitarian stakeholders that make up the global humanitarian system. The module provides students with a deep understanding and knowledge of the fundamentals of humanitarian action in preparation for the graduate programme they are now beginning. The specific learning objectives of the module are to ensure:
1. Students have a sound knowledge of the basic concepts of humanitarian action and its key principles.
2. Students are familiar with humanitarian stakeholder groupings within the international humanitarian system.
3. Students have a rich understanding of the Irish humanitarian sector
4. To familiarize students with the localisation concept in humanitarian action together with its origins and rationale.
5. To help students critically analyse both contemporary and new directions for the humanitarian sector

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Following the successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
Describe the humanitarian principles demonstrating knowledge of their origin, evolution, and purpose;
List the key stakeholders that comprise the international humanitarian system and assess their disparate roles to save lives alleviate suffering and support disaster-affected populations to live with dignity;
Map the Irish humanitarian stakeholder mix and critique their respective roles in supporting global humanitarian action;
Knowledge of the more pertinent contemporary concepts that will be analysed on the MSc Humanitarian Action; and
Rationalise contemporary humanitarian challenges in the global humanitarian system.

Indicative Module Content:

Review and discussion on humanitarian action literature and policy documents.
Debate the humanitarian principles their logic and diverse interpretations
Apply the principles to contemporary humanitarian interventions and impacts – (will vary each year) e.g. Gaza, Ukraine, South Sudan, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons
Review the roles and functions of identified Irish Humanitarian actors in contemporary crises
Introduction to essay wirting

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

20

Autonomous Student Learning

80

Total

100


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module will be delivered through the UCD VLE system and practical tutorials that will consist of:
• Lectures
• Classroom practical discussions with humanitarian professionals
• Online presentations with humanitarian professionals in the field.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Students demonstrate their knowledge of the international humanitarian systems and the role of Irish humanitarian stakeholders. It is also a first attempt to assess each student's writing skills. Week 15 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

100

Yes

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

1. Gibbons, P., and Otieku-Boadu, C., (2021), "The question is not 'if to localise?" but rather 'how to localise?': Perspectives from Irish Humanitarian INGOs. Frontiers in Political Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2021.744559
2. Gibbons, P., Roughneen, D., McDermott, R. and Maitra, S. (2020), Putting affected people at the centre of humanitarian action: an argument for the principle of humanitarian subsidiarity. Disasters, 44: 499-517. https://doi.org/10.1111/disa.12386
3. Kristina Roepstorff (2020) A call for critical reflection on the localisation agenda in humanitarian action, Third World Quarterly, 41:2, 84-301, DOI: 10.1080/01436597.2019.1644160
4. ALNAP (2021) The state of the Humanitarian System. Available at https://www.alnap.org/help-library/the-state-of-the-humanitarian-system-fifth-editioninception-report
5. A Better World: Ireland Policy for International Development. Available at https://www.irishaid.ie/media/irishaid/aboutus/abetterworldirelandspolicyforinternationalde velopment/A-Better-World-Irelands-Policy-for-International-Development.pdf
6. BRTE website- Project synopsis available at www.brte.eu
7. Matyas, D. and Pelling, M., (2014). Positioning resilience for 2015: the role of resistance, incremental adjustment, and transformation in disaster risk management policy. Disasters, 39(S1): pp S1−S18

Name Role
Dr Sulagna Maitra Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Ronan McDermott Lecturer / Co-Lecturer