MEVIT3620 – Scholars at Risk (SAR) Student Advocacy Seminar

Course content

Empowering students to understand and advocate for academic freedom and human rights, the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Student Advocacy Seminars offer a unique opportunity for all students at UiO to engage directly in campaigns on behalf of threatened members of the global higher education community. In collaboration with the Scholars in Prison Project in New York, this course is a platform for students to develop essential skills while making a tangible impact.

Students can expect to gain a deeper understanding of the value of the academic freedom they enjoy and the risks scholars and students around the world face in the pursuit of knowledge. Students taking the course will also be able to partner with students across Europe and USA, and to put their advocacy skills into practice at SAR’s European Student Advocacy Days.

The Scholars at Risk (SAR) Student Advocacy Seminars provide university students with the opportunity to develop skills in campaigning for human rights and academic freedom through direct engagement on behalf of threatened members of the global higher education community. This course is provided in cooperation with the International SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project and Scholars in Prison Project in New York.

Each semester, under the supervision of local faculty and in partnership with SAR, we undertake the case of one or more scholars currently imprisoned due to their academic work and political engagement.

Working collaboratively, students craft and launch targeted advocacy campaigns to raise awareness and garner support for these individuals throughout the semester. Through this hands-on experience, students not only deepen their comprehension of academic freedom but also cultivate a variety of skills crucial for effective advocacy, including:

• Human rights research and standards
• Understanding of modern media systems and advocacy
• Organizing and persuasive writing
• Leadership and teamwork
• Practical organisational skills

This experiential program is tailored to the specific group of students who sign up.

Learning outcome

Obvious examples how and why certain human rights issues and campaigns are prioritized over others, by whom, and to what end and what effect such campaigns have. Better critical multi-disciplinary experience and assessment of human rights campaigns can enhance awareness of these challenges.

Against this background this course will help students develop a practical understanding of advocacy and strategic communication work, particularly within the field of academic freedom. Student led advocacy intervention during teaching time seek to enhance the link between practical work, theory and critical reflection. In doing so they will gain a comprehensive understanding of the role of academic freedom in societies. Upon completion of this course, students will have acquired the following.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge and experience of academic freedom issues
• A nuanced understanding of human rights campaigning
• Insight into the complexities of international advocacy work
• Familiarity with ethical challenges in human rights campaigning
• Understanding of communicative tools and tactics in advocacy

Skills:

• Analytical skills in identifying human rights issues
• Ethical analysis of human rights practices
• Proficiency in designing and executing communicative strategies
• Research and information evaluation skills
• Leadership, networking and organizing abilities
• Event planning and impact evaluation skills

General competence:

• Capability to engage in human rights campaign work across various sectors
• Understanding of information and communication campaign processes
• Ability to analyse the impact of communication campaigns
• Familiarity with the evolution and challenges of human rights practice
• Development of skills attractive to employers

Admission to the course

Please Note: This course deals with real-life cases, emphasizing the urgency and importance of the issues at hand.

Thus, we require that all students who would like to take the course submit a 1-page motivation letter. The letter should state why the student would like to take this course, and their commitment to the work.

Once you have registered for the course, you will receive a link to a web form (by email) where you can upload your motivational letter by a set deadline. Information about the deadline will be announced in the email. You must submit, and get approved, a motivational letter in order to be able to attend the course. If you do not submit a motivational letter by the deadline that is announced to you, or if the letter is not approved, you will be withdrawn from the course.

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with MEVIT4620 – Scholars at Risk (SAR) Student Advocacy Seminar.

Teaching

The course structure includes introductory lectures, workshops, and a group examination comprising advocacy reports and impact assessments. The teaching staff includes local course leaders and guest lecturers with expertise relevant to the students' work.

Compulsory activity: 

• An individual reflection report, 3-4 pages. The aim is to use course readings when describing and reflecting upon and contextualizing the advocacy experience.

In order to take the exam in this course, the compulsory activity must be approved. 

Read more about compulsory activities

Examination

This course features a group examination comprising two components:

• A group work assignment involving the creation of a final advocacy report.
• A group work assignment focused on producing a public impact assessment report (2-4 pages or in multimedia format) based on the group's experience. This report will be shared with Scholars at Risk International.

A group exam that is passed may not be resubmitted in revised form.

If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline, this will be counted as an examination attempt.

Language of examination

You must submit your group exam in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.