Course content

We live in an age marked by uncertainty where crises have in many ways become ‘the new normal’. This requires a different thinking on the connectivity between humanitarian and development efforts. More than 40 percent of the world’s poor live in economies affected by fragility, conflict and violence, and the same communities will be at the tail end of the worst impacts of climate change. Focusing on the humanitarian-development nexus, this course introduces current drivers, forms, and patterns of transnational and internal migration, and how migration is experienced and managed by different actors at the local, national, and global level. Key themes in the course are development and humanitarian practice, refugee and displacement policy, environmental migration, resilience, and how different forms of migration are placed in sustainable development debates. The course emphasize global relational aspects of migration and how the humanitarian-development nexus plays out with specific reference to the majority world (global south).

Key questions in the course are:

• What are drivers and root causes of migration in different regions of the world?
• Who are the actors involved in humanitarianism and development, and what are the ways in which these actors understand and address different forms of migration?
• How is the forced-voluntary nexus applied in a world where conflict, environmental and health hazards, and climate change have compounded impacts on people’s lives?

Learning outcome

A student who has completed this course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

• has knowledge about local and global, internal and international migration processes, and in particular how migration influences and is influenced by development and humanitarian policy and practice

Skills:

• is able to analyze practical and theoretical connections between humanitarianism and development, and how different forms of migration are embedded in sustainable development debates
• through group activity, the students will develop the ability to communicate theories, concepts and discussions on migration themes and apply them to particular cases and situations

General competence:

• has an understanding of current debates within migration related to humanitarianism and development, and how complex crises are dealt with at the individual, group, local, national and global level

Learning methods and activities

Up to 16 hours lectures, 10 hours group work and presentations (depending on the number of students). Teaching methods include films, discussions, seminars and presentations. It is expected that compulsories and examinations must be completed in English. Exceptions must be clarified with the lecturer responsible for the course.

Compulsory assignments

• Approved group work and seminar presentation

Required previous knowledge

Bachelor in social science. Other relevant qualifications can be accepted upon approval by the Department of Geography.