EDS245 Human Rights and Development
Credits (ECTS):10
Course responsible:Poul Wisborg
Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås
Teaching language:Engelsk
Limits of class size:50
Course frequency:The course is not offered in 2024
Nominal workload:250 hours
Teaching and exam period:Spring Semester
About this course
Human rights represent an important ethical and theoretical approach to development theory, policy and practice. They contribute to defining the ends and means of human development, linked to, among others, the rights to racial and gender equality, to participation, and to adequate livelihoods and a healthy environment.
The course will give a historical introduction to human rights, addressing topics such as slavery, colonisation and exploitation, which form the background for the creation of human rights; migration will be examined as a central historical phenomenon and contemporary human rights issue; then human rights linked to environmental and climate crises will be discussed, including rights of indigenous peoples; human rights linked to land, water and food will be examined; human rights issues linked to economy, inequality, gender and labour will be examined; the politics, problems and opportunities in the work of the UN, states, and other institutions to promote human rights will be explored and discussed. The course emphasises the ways economic, environmental and political processes and power relations shape the achievement of human rights.
Learning is based on participants' work with central themes in the course, in groups and individually. Learning is supported by lectures and discussion in class; literature; writing assignments; and supervision and consultations.
Learning outcome
After completing the Course, participants will be able to:
- Understand, account and discuss major theories and approaches in human rights and development.
- Use these theories and approaches to address problems in development policy and practice in diverse social, economic, cultural and environmental contexts.
- Demonstrate improved skills: in working in interdisciplinary teams; in searching, managing and sharing information; in presenting and debating themes in human rights and development; and in writing as a means of learning, reflection and communication.
- Be more aware of and able to critically evaluate values, norms and ethical perspectives in development theory, policy and practice.
- The course employs a problem-oriented approach to human rights and development. Learning builds on active participation and interaction between course participants and teachers, enabling sharing and exploration of academic experiences and insights. Major learning methods are: group work to gather, discuss, create and share knowledge on a defined topic (documented in seminar and research report); working with the literature; lectures and discussions in class; and writing as a means of learning, reflection and communication.
- Learning is supported by classes that involve lectures and discussion; literature; group work; writing; guest lectures; and supervision and consultations.
Portfolio Assessment
Grading: Pass/Fail
Each element of the portfolio is obligatory.
- An academic with a relevant PhD and experience will assess the quality of the evaluation design and participate in assessing a selection of the portfolio of written assignments.
Portfolio
Group:
1. Student-led Seminar on a theme of one of the blocks.
2. Research Report (same group and topic).
Individual:
3. Book Review
4. Column or Blog
Each participant must submit a portfolio of their Book Review, Research Report, and Column or Blog at the end of the period of teaching.
- The course is not offered in 2024
- There will be two classes per week, with either lecture and discussion or seminar (based on readings, guest lecture or student-led). One to two hours for supervision and group work in conjunction with teaching. Participants are required to spend additional time on group work and self-directed study.
- Students on Noragric's study programmes
- Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (Generell studiekompetanse, GSK)