Freedom of Expression in the Age of Globalization MOOC set to launch October 12

by | Sep 30, 2016

Watch the trailer for the course Freedom of Expression in the Age of Globalization, launching on edX this October. The course is led by Dr. Agnès Callamard, the director of the Columbia University Global Freedom of Expression initiative.

NEW YORK, New York, September 30, 2016 — On October 12, 2016, Columbia University will launch a new MOOC (massive open online course) Freedom of Expression in the Age of Globalization on the edX platform. The course is free and open to all.

The six-week MOOC explores political expression, freedom of the press, and freedom of expression, and is led by Dr. Agnès Callamard, the director of the Columbia University Global Freedom of Expression initiative. The course provides an introduction to these complex fundamental rights at the heart of today’s many global challenges and controversies.

Participants will learn about the international human rights norms and laws that define free speech and the global jurisprudence that has developed to safeguard them. The course also covers legitimate restrictions to freedom of expression, and discusses its most pressing challenges and violations globally.

“From the Danish cartoon about a major religious figure to the attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo; from the execution of journalists working on conflict zones to the imprisonment of those reporting on terrorism; from censorship to the internet firewall and government surveillance: these are just some of the challenges that tell the remarkable journey of freedom of expression and information since the end of World War Two and the establishment of an international human rights system,” said Dr. Callamard.

Dr. Callamard’s distinguished career in human rights and global humanitarian work will add key insights and important expertise to the course. Prior to her role at Columbia, she spent nine years as the Executive Director of ARTICLE 19, the international human rights organization promoting and defending freedom of expression and access to information globally.

The course will consist of video lectures, expert interviews, online discussions and interactive assessments. Lectures and interviews will feature key journalists, human rights defenders, freedom of the press activists, and scholars from around the world, including Lee C. Bollinger, Columbia University’s president and First Amendment scholar.

Visit ColumbiaX to register for Freedom of Expression in the Age of Globalization and to keep informed about upcoming MOOC releases from Columbia. Register today!