DIHAD Humanitarian College

DIHAD HUMANITARIAN COLLEGE

SUSTAINABLE HUMANITARIAN ACTION

Teaching Method:
Hybrid

Credits:
60 ECTS

Duration:
16 Months

Modules:
9

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College and University

Brief

Acknowledging the pivotal role of education in fostering sustainable progress, DIHAD Humanitarian College embarked on a groundbreaking initiative focused on promoting sustainable development, resilience, and equity, while instilling a sustainable mindset in future generations – the first-ever Master’s Degree Program in Sustainable Humanitarian Action.

The DIHAD Humanitarian College proudly introduced in 2022, the world’s first Master’s Degree Program in Sustainable Humanitarian Action. This innovative program was meticulously crafted to equip students with essential concepts, practical knowledge, and a sustainable outlook to tackle the multifaceted challenges of humanitarian work. DIHAD College resembles a beacon of hope and inspiration in the field of education and Humanitarianism.

Teaching Methods

Physical lectures
Online lectures
Seminars
Study visits
Conferences

Objective

Obtain key concepts and practical knowledge in sustainable humanitarian action in addition to gaining insights on how to adapt to the future of humanitarian work.
Acquire a sustainable mindset to deliver sustainable projects.
Attain critical humanitarian management skills and knowledge.

Curriculum | 2026/2027

M01: INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIANISM

Subjects

Foundations and Principles of Humanitarian Action
The International Humanitarian System
Humanitarian Action: The Issues and the Actors
Humanitarian Global Coordination and Architecture
The Politics and Neutrality of Humanitarian Aid

ECTS: 5 ECTS Delivery Method: Online

M02: INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND DIPLOMACY

Subjects

Global Trends and International Tensions
Humanitarian Diplomacy and Multilateral Engagement
Negotiation, Mediation, and Conflict Resolution
Foreign Policy and Humanitarian Action

ECTS: 6 ECTS Delivery Method: Online

M03: INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW (IHL) AND ETHICS

Subjects

Foundations and Contemporary Challenges of the (IHL)
Compliance, Accountability, and Justice in Humanitarian Contexts
Ethics and Moral Responsibility in Humanitarian Action

ECTS: 5 ECTS Delivery Method: Online

M04: HUMANITARIAN LEADERSHIP

Subjects

Strategic Leadership Foundations and Emotional Intelligence
Leading with Influence, Presence, and Inclusion in Humanitarian Contexts
Adaptive Leadership and Systems Thinking for Humanitarian Challenges
Executive Crisis Leadership and High-Stakes Decision-Making

ECTS: 8 ECTS Delivery Method: Optional Physical in ROME

M05: STRATEGIC HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT

Subjects

Localization and Community Engagement
Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chain
Humanitarian Financing and the Aid Economy
Crisis Communication, Media, and Narrative
Conflict Sensitivity & Peacebuilding
Climate Adaptation & Environmental Resilience

ECTS: 7 ECTS Delivery Method: Online

M06: HUMANITARIAN FUTURES AND STRATEGIC FORESIGHT

Subjects

Managing Humanitarian Systems in a Changing World
Strategic Planning and Innovation for Sustainable Humanitarian Action
Scenario Planning and Risk Anticipation for Complex Crises
Foresight and Futures Thinking in Humanitarian Contexts

ECTS: 6 ECTS Delivery Method: Online

M07: INNOVATION AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN HUMANITARIAN ACTION

Subjects

Digital Transformation and Emerging Technologies in Humanitarian Action
Human-Centered Innovation and Design for Humanitarian Solutions
Data for Humanitarian Impact
Ethics, Risks, and Governance in the Digital Humanitarian Space

ECTS: 8 ECTS Delivery Method: Physical in Dubai

M08: HUMANITARIANISM IN TRANSITION

Subjects

The Evolving Landscape of Humanitarian Action
Rethinking Humanitarian Principles and Systemic Reform
Rebuilding Trust and Legitimacy in Humanitarian Action
Shaping the Future of Humanitarianism: New Models and Narratives

ECTS: 8 ECTS Delivery Method: Physical in Dubai

M09: MASTER THESIS (MT)

Subjects

Election, Preparation, and VIVA of the Master’s Thesis

ECTS: 7 ECTS Delivery Method: Hybrid

The Faculty

H.E. Amb. Prof. Abdulsalam AlMadani

Chairman of DIHAD Sustainable Organisation and Chairman of DISAB; Roving Ambassador of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) for the GCC Region

H.E. Amb. Gerhard Putman-Cramer

Ambassador, Permanent Delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva

Mr. Amin Awad

President of the Foundation Council, DCAF Genève Center for Security Governance; Former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine; Senior Fellow, Advanced Leadership Initiative, Harvard University

Ms. Ann Encontre

Former Director, the Ethics Office, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Geneva

Mr. Claus Sorensen

Senior Adviser on Resilience,
Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Norwegian Refugee Council; Former Director-General, ECHO

Eng. Khaled Al Attar

Director-General of DIHAD Sustainable Organisation

Dr. Khaled Khalifa

Senior Advisor and Representative to the GCC Countries, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Ms. Magda Ninaber van Eyben

Senior Humanitarian Aid Advisor

Mr. Mario Stephan

Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, Center for Civilians in Conflict

Professor Dr. Michael A. Köhler

Grand Bargain Ambassador; Professor at the College of Europe, Bruges; Deputy Director-General, European Commission (ret.)

Dr. Mukesh Kapila

Professor Emeritus,
Global Health & Humanitarian Affairs, University of Manchester; Senior Adviser to the Parliament Assembly for the Mediterranean (PAM); Adviser on the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Antimicrobial Resistance for the World Health Organization (WHO)

Dr. Paolo Petrocelli

Director General,
Stauffer Center for Strings; Founder & President, Euro Mediterranean Music Academy – EMMA for Peace; Honorary President & Co-Founder, Italian Youth Association for UNESCO

Prof. Randolph Kent

Director, Humanitarian Futures; Director and Senior Research Associate, Royal United Services Institute; Visiting Professor, African Leadership Centre; King’s College, London

Drs. Yannick du Pont

Member of the Development Cooperation Committee at the Dutch Advisory Council on International Affairs; Founder of Spark, Amsterdam

H.E. Amb. Dr. Zoran Jolevski

Former Minister of Defense; Vice Rector, European University – Skopje; Senior Fellow, Harvard University; an Ambassador to the United States and Secretary General of the Cabinet of the late President Boris Trajkovski

Guest Lecturers

Mr. Adrian Kitimbo

Research Officer,
UN Migration Agency (IOM); Research Associate at GIBS, University of Pretoria

Dr. Andrea Atzori

CEO, Doctors with Africa CUAMM UK

Ms. Bérangère Böell

United Nations Resident Coordinator for the UAE

Ms. Clare Dalton

Advisor, Policy Planning Department, United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mr. David Harland

Executive Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue;
Member of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation, United Nations

Ms. Dina L. Storey

CEO, Optimum Green Ventures, COO, HawanaWater, Executive Advisor and Subject-Matter, Expert Climate Change and Sustainability | Former Director of Sustainability Operations Expo 2020 Dubai

Dr. Eric de Roodenbeke

International Consultant; Past Chief Executive Officer,
International Hospital Federation (IHF)

H.E. Hon. Gennaro Migliore

Board Member and Director, Centre for Global Studies – CGS

Mr. Giuseppe Saba

Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Humanitarian; Founder of UNHRD Network and former Network Coordinator

Ms. Hatice Beton

Executive Director & Co-Founder of the G20 & G7 Health and Development Partnership

Mr. James DR Brown

Disaster Response & Humanitarian Assistance Specialist; UK Member of the United Nations Disaster Assessment & Coordination (UNDAC) Team; Visiting Lecturer in Disaster Response

Dr. Manal Taryam

CEO and Board Member of Noor Dubai Foundation

Dr. Marie McAuliffe

Head, Migration Research and Publications Division;
Editor, World Migration Report, Department of Policy and Research, International Organization for Migration (IOM)

H.E. Nickolay Mladenov

Director General of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy

H.E. Panos Moumtzis

Executive Director and Former United Nations Assistant Secretary General, Global Executive Leadership Initiative (GELI)

Ms. Sajeda Shawa

Head of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) Office in the UAE

Dr. Sama Al-Shawi

Legal Advisor, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UAE

H.E. Amb. Sergio Piazzi

Secretary-General, Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM)

Mr. Stephen Anderson

Former Director, World Food Programme (WFP) UAE Office and Representative to the GCC Region

H.E. Xavier Castellanos Mosquera

Under Secretary General for National Society Development and Coordination, The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Outcomes

By joining DIHAD Humanitarian College you’ll have a chance to upskill your humanitarian talents and obtaining a degree in Sustainable Humanitarian Action. The program provides candidates with a chance to meet top names in the field which qualifies people from around the world to prepare and respond to crises wherever they are, in addition to refining leadership skills in aims to deliver relief to people on a worldwide scale and altering society.

DIHAD Humanitarian College also builds a highly skilled workforce equipped to prepare and respond more effectively and efficiently to catastrophes from all kinds by curating and sharing top notch humanitarian knowledge and building a network of aspiring future pioneers of hope.

Admission Requirements

Candidates must have obtained a Bachelor’s degree program with a minimum of 3.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0.
Candidates are required to have a recognized qualification in the English language; for example, a score of 6.0 in IELTS or an equivalent of 500 in TOEFL.
A minimum of 2 years of experience in the humanitarian field or a minimum of 2000 certified volunteering hours in the humanitarian field.
All qualified applicants must pass a personal interview with the committee.
Letter of recommendation.
Passport copy.

Career Opportunities

The Master’s Degree in Sustainable Humanitarian Action offers a wide range of career opportunities. The program will qualify graduates to start or boost their existing careers within Non-Governmental Organisations, International Humanitarian Organizations, United Nations agencies, National Government Authorities, Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, Humanitarian Foundations and Charities, Academic Institutions, or the Private Sector. This will ultimately give students the chance to become specialists in humanitarian sustainability and a wide range of career opportunities become available such as field project/program officers, managers and directors, consultants, and even corporate social responsibility (CSR) departments in private companies.