Protection of Children in Humanitarian Settings: Columbia University Launches Open Online Course
Course Image by Unni Krishnan, Save the Children
NEW YORK, New York, August 21, 2019 — Columbia University has released the open online course Protection of Children in Humanitarian Settings with Hanna-Tina Fischer, Mark Canavera and Mike Wessells. The course is free and open to all on edX.org with an optional paid verified certificate program.
Globally, an unprecedented 131 million people are affected by humanitarian crises worldwide. Children, who constitute just under half of the affected population, are particularly vulnerable in these situations, which present grave risks to their physical health and psychological well-being.
This course examines how children’s social environments at different levels, such as the family, community and societal levels, influence children’s adversity, development and resilience. Course participants will engage in critical thought about current international child protection practices and how to strengthen them. Participants will be invited to identify opportunities for learning from science and practice to enrich current child protection approaches in humanitarian settings.
“We created this course for child protection practitioners, focusing on areas that are ripe for enrichment,” said Professor Mike Wessells, “but with an eye toward those who want to learn more and possibly start working in the sector.” Since the launch just a few weeks ago, the course has attracted a global audience of over twelve hundred participants from 130 countries, with many contributing to the conversations on the course forums. Visit ColumbiaX to register for the Protection of Children in Humanitarian Settings course and to keep informed about other upcoming online course releases from Columbia.
About the Instructors
Hanna-Tina Fischer is an Instructor in the Program on Forced Migration and Health at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and a doctoral candidate in the DrPH program on Leadership in Global Health and Humanitarian Systems.
Mark Canavera is the co-director of the Care and Protection of Children (CPC) Learning Network, an entity housed at the Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health that convenes academics, policymakers, and practitioners to promote innovative research, nurture communities of learning, and build the next generation of researchers and advocates for children and families worldwide.
Mike Wessells, Professor in the Program on Forced Migration and Health, is a psychosocial and child protection practitioner who has worked for decades in humanitarian and development settings in countries throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
About the Center for Teaching and Learning at Columbia University
The Center for Teaching and Learning partners with faculty, students, and colleagues across the University to support excellence and innovation in teaching and learning. The CTL is committed to advancing the culture of teaching and learning for professional development, curricular enhancement, and academic support through its programs, services, and resources.
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