Contemporary safety and security challenges are complex and often interrelated. Conflict leads people to undertake perilous journeys in search of safer lives, arriving in countries that may perceive them as threats, leading to tensions and increased polarization.

Human Security is an analytical framework that addresses this complexity to formulate sustainable solutions that leave no one behind. It promotes a people-centred approach to protect and empower by actively involving people in designing solutions to the issues affecting them.

Students will tackle a wide range of security issues from across the globe. Through field visits and hands-on exercises and assignments, students will work with stakeholders from different sectors, including government, academia, and non-governmental organizations.

Are you an inquisitive and critical thinker? Do you want to contribute to a safer world with people at the centre? Then this minor is for you!

Goals: 

• become engaged and active citizens who help to realize individual and collective security through critical thinking and practical tools. 
• work as professionals, including in nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations, government and the corporate sector, in a collaborative manner with relevant actors from other sectors and the general public. 
• tackle global and local problems by taking into account the full range of human (in)securities and the ways in which these are interrelated. 

Intended Learning Outcomes: 

1. The student can contrast the human security approach with conventional state-centric approaches in tackling past and current problems, including health, food, economic, political and conflict related issues presented in the minor. 
2. The student can apply formats and strategies, related to citizen engagement, to address current global and local security issues.  
3. The student can demonstrate critical and conceptual thinking on local and global cases and phenomena, based on theories and frameworks, including from the United Nations, taught in the minor.  
4. The student can suggest security management strategies for human rights, development, and humanitarian aid workers and volunteers, using risk assessment and other relevant security tools, presented in the minor.  
5. The student can distinguish the different and interconnected roles of various stakeholders, including civil society, government and policy makers, security sector agents, and private actors, in security related issues. 
6. The student can cooperate effectively and constructively in a team. 

Proficiency in written and spoken English and a propaedeutic degree.

A motivation letter is required, please answer the following questions in your letter:

1. What is your motivation for undertaking this minor?
2. What is an area of specific interest for you within this minor?
3. Which additional reading or research, work or other personal interests, have informed your decision to apply for this particular minor?
4. How will this particular minor assist you to achieve a personal, academic and professional aspiration?
5. What has been so far your average performance grade?
6. Have you already obtained your propaedeutic degree?
7. What type of qualifications have you obtained that confirm your proficiency in written and spoken English?

Glasius, M (2008). Human Security from Paradigm Shift to Operationalization: Job Description for a Human Security Worker. Security Dialogue 39: 31, 31- 54.  

Peoples C. & Vaughan- Williams N. (2021). Critical Security Studies; an introduction. Routledge. 

United Nations Development Programme (1994). Human Development Report. Oxford University Press.  

United Nations Development Programme (2022). New threats to human security in the Anthropocene – Demanding greater solidarity. Retrieved from UNDP website: https://hs.hdr.undp.org/pdf/srhs2022.pdf 

Other literature to be determined 

16 contact hours per week.  

Testing: indicate: 

1. Exam (40%), minimum pass rate: 5,5 

1. Portfolio: written report and creative presentation (40%), minimum pass rate 5,5 

1. Oral exam OR oral presentation (creative format) (20%), minimum pass rate 5,5 

1. Class participation (P/F) 

 

Planning of the testing (per partial test when applicable): 

Exam: week 5 

Portfolio: week 7 

Oral exam OR oral presentation: week 8 

Teaching methods: describe the teaching methods to be used. The choice of methods should relate directly to the competencies/ final objectives to be acquired.  

 

Lectures and guest lectures on content-based topics 

Workshop sessions 

Discussions (in-class and online) 

Site visits  

2 day security training 

 

Study load (128 hours): 

1. Lectures and guest contributions (56) 

1. Workshops, exercises, simulations (twice a week) (32) 

1. Training (12)  

1. Visits and Events (24)