Writers’ Workshop on Postgraduate Diploma in Child Protection in Emergencies

BY: .

The School of Built Environment and Development Studies recently held a three-day writers’ curriculum development workshop for the Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE) postgraduate diploma.

The writers have very extensive experience in humanitarian work and were from different parts of the world including India, the UK and the United States of America and have come together at UKZN to develop, complete and finalise the modules for the CPiE curriculum.

The six-module diploma programme will be taught over 18 months.  It will primarily use a distance learning delivery methodology, combined with one residential module and a work placement.

The 128 credit-point diploma programme has the following component modules:  Principles of CPiE, Theoretical Foundations in CPiE, Research Methods in CPiE, Project Planning in CPiE, Management and Co-ordination in CPiE and Service Placement in CPiE. 

According to the Course Manager of the postgraduate diploma, Mr Jeremy Grest, the rationale for the programme is to create flexible skills and capabilities which can be transferred and applied in varied contexts.

‘The writers reviewed and assessed the work to date on the individual modules. They set out ideas as to the shape of work to be done in the next phase of writing and discussed key issues relating to content, method, distance learning outcomes, assignments and even assessment for modules in the context of the programme as a whole,’ said Grest.

The workshop looked at developing an understanding of writing for distance delivery and the learning and teaching process through the distance mode. It also developed a writing and quality assurance review schedule for the teaching materials being developed.

One of the UKZN workshop participants, Dr Frances O’Brien, said, ‘I have an interest in curriculum development and to be a part of this is important for me. And it’s vital that the programme has a strong focus on the actions taken in emergencies and relaying these skills.’

The CPiE postgraduate diploma will be launched in January 2015.

-           Melissa Mungroo