Short Course in Refugee Studies

The Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University (CPJ), is pleased to announce the launching of an intensive five-day Short Course in Refugee Studies from 28^th August to 1st September 2022. This online course will bring together scholars and practitioners and offer participants a unique learning experience focusing on a range of themes broadly relating to refugee studies, particularly the Rohingya refugee situation in Bangladesh.

With the offices of its Refugee Studies Unit (RSU) merely minutes away from the Kutupalong refugee camp, widely known as the world’s largest refugee camp, the CPJ came into existence in 2017 around the same time the most recent large-scale persecution of the Rohingya people began in Myanmar causing hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh. From the outset, the CPJ has forged strong alliances with national and international organizations to extend a range of services that have contributed to alleviating the plight of the Rohingya.

CPJ’s constant and deep engagement with Bangladesh’s ever-evolving Rohingya refugee situation has led it to possess a truly unique and nuanced understanding of the persecuted Rohingya people and the protracted refugee situation they are a part of.

Drawing from five years worth of experience directly engaging with the Rohingya refugee situation, CPJ’s Short Course in Refugee Studies is designed to bridge the gaps between theory and practice in the discipline of forced migration. We are confident that upon completion of the course, participants will leave with a fresh pair of eyes that will enable them to better understand refugee studies and the Rohingya refugee situation.

Course Structure:

The guiding principle of the short course is to ask one core theoretical question complemented by a range of sub-questions that have practical implications in the context of the Rohingya refugee situation in Bangladesh. The questions shall be theoretical in nature, but their implications shall have practical consequences. The Rohingya refugee situation in Bangladesh shall form the basis of further understanding of the theoretical questions asked during the short course.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

–  Understanding the causes of ‘refugeehood’ with particular reference to the ethnoreligious and political complexities of the Rohingya refugee situation and the persecution of the Rohingya people in Myanmar.

–  Identifying and comprehending the importance of refugee rights with particular emphasis on the right to work, education, and movement.

–  Creating awareness of the global refugee protection regime, with a particular focus on the internal domestic legal architecture applicable to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Mode of Operation:

The Short Course in Refugee Studies will be offered online (via Zoom) 

Each day will be divided into two sessions, with Session 1 taking place from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, and Session 2 taking place between 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

The time and date are determined per Bangladesh Standard Time.

Participants will be given access to a series of reading materials, provided lectures, and the opportunity to engage in panels and seminars throughout the course.

All participants are expected to attend a minimum of 8 out of 10 sessions in order to qualify for the certificate provided at the end of the course.

Who can apply? 

The course is designed to help bridge academia and practical experiences in order to provide a comprehensive picture of the Rohingya refugee situation. Individuals who have an intermediate understanding of the overarching refugee situations across the world and those with a particular interest in the Rohingya situation are encouraged to apply. The course will accept a maximum cohort of 25 participants.

–  Participants should ideally hold a Master’s degree in a field relevant to refugee studies. However, participants who hold an undergraduate degree, complemented by one or two years of professional experience will also be considered.

–  Applicants with an undergraduate in refugee studies or relevant fields of social sciences, law will be preferred.

–  Applicants with more professional/academic experience will be preferred.

–  The course will be delivered in English; hence candidates should have adequate proficiency in English.

Fees and Funding:

The course fee is 21,400 BDT (US$ 250 approx.)

Course Facilitators:

Dr. M Sanjeeb Hossain
Research Fellow
Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University

Ahmed Shafquat Hassan
Research Associate
Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University