Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific Regional Program)

The Asia Pacific is the largest and most diverse region in the world. Stretching from the Pacific to the Middle East, and including three of the world’s most populous countries, the region is home to more than half of the world’s population and offers unparalleled cultural richness. However, the region also faces a number of severe human rights challenges, including massive poverty, discrimination against vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, armed conflict and violence, forced internal displacement of people, exploitation of children, people-trafficking, environmental and cultural destruction and corruption. Recognising the pressing demand to build knowledge and expertise to increase awareness of and respect for human rights and democratic principles in a manner that is carefully attuned to regional issues and perspectives, both across the region and within local and national communities, a five-university consortium established this new degree in July 2010.

The Master of Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific Regional Program) – MHRD (Asia Pacific) – is the only program of its kind in the Asia Pacific. The aim of the program is to develop the capacity of people working in the field of human rights and democratisation so that they may be better equipped to advocate for, promote awareness of and encourage respect for human rights and democratic principles, both across the region and within their local communities. The program is tailored to address the particular objectives and perspectives of people working in the field of human rights and democratisation at a number of levels, that is, in governmental, non-governmental and international organisations, as well as in education, the police or military, business or other fields where human rights perspectives are critical.

The degree as a whole comprises a foundational semester and a one-week inter-sessional intensive unit of study at the University of Sydney, followed by a second semester at one of four regional partner institutions:

• Mahidol University (Thailand)
• Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia)
• Kathmandu School of Law (Nepal), and
• University of Colombo (Sri Lanka)

Contact
Associate Professor Nicola Piper
Phone: + 61 2 9351 4203
Email:

Awards and Requirements

Please refer to the degree resolutions in this Handbook for information on the specific admission requirements for different coursework award courses.

Master of Human Rights and Democratisation
To be awarded the Master of Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific Regional Program), students complete a total of 60 credit points of study, comprising:

• five core units of study (30 credit points) at the University of Sydney
• two required units of study (12 credit points) at the partner university
• the choice of either a dissertation, internship or further coursework (18 credit points) at the partner university

Availability of elective/coursework units are subject to change, depending on the partner institutions, and students should discuss available options with the Degree Director.

Research

There are currently no research degrees offered in Human Rights and Democratisation, but potential applicants are referred to the Sociology and Social Policy section of the Postgraduate Handbook.