EU-funded Masters course sets human rights activists up for success

Son güncelleme Salı, 29/09/2020

Want to transform your passion for human rights into a career that can make a difference? An EU-funded Master’s course offers world-class tuition, international study trips and post-graduation support to launch that dream job.

Watch this video to see what its alumni have to say.

The Global Campus of Human Rights is an international network of 100 universities. Funded by the EU, it acts as a coordination hub for experts in human rights and resources from all corners of the world. Its main teaching programme, the European Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation, was established in 1997, making it the longest-running EU-funded Master’s course.

Each year, the 15 highest-graded graduates are offered paid internships with the UN and EU, for example.  Moana Genevey, 27-years-old and from France, took part in one of these internships at the EU Delegation to the UN in New York after graduating in 2015.

‘It was a great professional experience,’ says Moana. ‘I spent five months there and gained an in-depth understanding of the functioning of both the UN and the EU, while living in a very vibrant city.’
Nine out of ten graduates have found jobs in relevant state organisations, international organisations, institutions and NGOs, private companies or academia. The programme is keen to continue supporting students after graduation. Its EMAlumni Association provides support with future projects and career development. 

New skills in a social setting

The year-long course teaches a mix of theory and practical skills. Educating 100 students annually from the EU and beyond, it includes a study trip so participants can dive deep into their favourite topics —  like democracy and law — in a real world context.

Hungarian Emoke Bebiak, 31, enjoyed the course’s social aspect and the diversity of its students. 
‘What really surprised me was the amount of information that I learnt from fellow students,’ she says. 
Emoke would often share experiences over dinner and walks with her colleagues who hailed from all around the world. She now works in Geneva, Switzerland, for the Right Livelihood Foundation.

‘What I liked most was its diversity,’ says Belgian Danaé Coquelet. ‘It brought together people from all over the world and who had studied in different fields.’
During her second semester, Danaé, who is now 27-years-old, learnt about migration and the Middle Eastern context at Saint Joseph University in Beirut. She now works as an attaché for the refugee resettlement programme of Belgium.

‘My EMA studies and my field research in Lebanon helped me to build up the expertise I needed,’ she says.  
The course is open to anyone who holds a degree in a relevant field, such as law and social sciences. There are also six affiliated Master’s courses that focus on specific regions. The Global Campus of Human Rights’ website has information on when applications open during the year and how you can apply.