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Ethics, Responsibility and Development

Abstract

By incorporating ethical and responsibility issues, this specialised master programme aims to understand, in a critical, scientific manner, the field of development in its multiple components: sustainable, social, environmental, educational, human, etc. It promotes an analytical management approach, enabling action not only in a general environment, but also and especially in accordance with the complexity of the social reality and with ethical and responsibility issues which influence the development of contemporary societies.
It is based on three learning objectives: consolidation of the foundations of theoretical work in the field of ethics and responsibility; reflection on the conditions for development that respect human beings; understanding of the implications of development on the social organisation, the life styles and the forms of solidarity.
The programme includes field experience abroad, enabling students to compare theoretical analysis and real development practice. At the end of the course, an ethics week is organised based on the students' work.

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Profile of the study programme

By incorporating ethical and responsibility issues, the specialised master programme Ethics, Responsibility and Development aims to understand, in a critical, scientific manner, the field of development in its multiple components (sustainable, social, environmental, educational, human, solidarity economy, development aid) and to forge the conditions for a reasoned analysis of development issues crossed with ethical issues.

It is based on three learning objectives:

  1. Consolidate, in a methodical fashion, the foundations of theoretical work in the field of ethics and responsibility with a view to developing a critical approach on the basis of the specific context of development;
  2. Reflect on the conditions of development which respect human beings;
  3. Understand the implications of development experiences on social organisation, life styles and forms of solidarity by integrating ethical and responsibility issues.

It thus subscribes to the ethical objective of Paul Ricoeur: «Live well, with and for others, in just institutions».

Fribourg profile
This specialised master programme includes field work abroad (Brazil, Canada, Paraguay, Argentina, Mexico, Romania, Bulgaria, Tunisia, Senegal, Congo, Rwanda, etc.) enabling a comparison between theoretical analyses (ethics, responsibility and development) and real development experiences. In order to achieve this, the University works with internationally recognised theoreticians in ethics, responsibility and development, and organisations/experts in the field of development and cooperation.
The programme finishes with an «Ethics Week» based on the students' work, with exhibitions, debates, discussion-workshops, talks, etc., on the actors/experts in development and cooperation and on the City.

The programme's strong points are:

  • Development of a practical foundation to the ethical dimension, with contributions from figures in national and international agencies confronted with the application of ethical issues in the field of development;
  • Observation work on real development operations during a semester abroad;
  • On-site supervision by a partner university on a contractual basis;
  • Pursuit of the theoretical standpoint of linking ethical issues with problems in development;
  • Integration of the various dimensions of project management from design and implementation to evaluation.

Learning outcomes and career openings
In answer to the question, «how should we act?», this specialised master programme offers teaching that focuses on critical debate, examining ethical aspects in their full scope and complexity.

The programme thereby promotes the formation of an analytical-management approach, enabling action not simply in accordance with a general framework, but which also integrates the complexity of social reality and in particular ethical and responsibility issues which are today very much a feature of development issues (social, environmental, educational, health, technological, etc.) in contemporary societies. Such an approach is sorely needed in a context in which the ethical, social and humanistic dimensions of development are justly questioned, on a recurrent basis, by organisations, foundations and associations working in the field of development or development aid, and also by public opinion.

These studies prepare students for roles in research, counselling, programme organisation, public administration, associations with various interests, non-profit organisations active in social and humanitarian fields, consultancy firms, non-governmental organisations and (inter)national administrations. Given that current ethics and development issues are becoming increasingly complex, this programme could also be of interest to students who wish to train for management roles in the social field in the public and private sectors, in which it is often necessary to make decisions involving issues that go substantially beyond the framework of the sector.

Studies organisation

Structure of studies

90 ECTS credits + 30 ECTS credits in a specialisation programme, 4 semesters

Curriculum

http://studies.unifr.ch/go/FK0fr (French only)

Comments

The number of places is limited to 25.

Admission

Master's degree programmes are built on the knowledge and abilities that were acquired when obtaining a bachelor's degree.

Holders of a bachelor's degree awarded by a Swiss university are admitted to a master's degree programme without any preconditions if they have earned 60 or 90 ECTS credits depending on the chosen master's degree programme within the corresponding discipline. However, additional requirements can be required. The same applies to holders of a bachelor's degree awarded by a foreign university, provided that the bachelor's degree is recognised and considered equivalent by the University of Fribourg.

Holders of a bachelor's degree awarded by a Swiss or a foreign university, provided that the bachelor's degree is recognised and considered equivalent by the University of Fribourg, who do not fulfil this condition can be admitted to a master's degree programme with preconditions (which must be successfully completed before starting the master's degree programme) and/or additional requirements (which can be completed during the master's degree programme). The preconditions and/or additional requirements may not exceed 60 ECTS credits in total. The same applies to holders of a bachelor's degree awarded by a Swiss university of applied sciences, according to existing agreements.

The respective conditions of admission for each master's degree programme are reserved.
Holders of a bachelor's degree awarded from a Swiss University in Social Work and Social Policy, Sociology, Socio Anthropology, Social and Human Sciences, Philosophy, Contemporary History, Human Geography, Economic Sciences, Political Sciences, International Relations, Sciences of Education and/or Special Education can be admitted to this master's degree course without any additional requirements.

Minor study programmes to be chosen

Ethics, Responsibility and Development

By incorporating ethical and responsibility issues, this specialised master programme aims to understand, in a critical, scientific manner, the field of development in its multiple components: sustainable, social, environmental, educational, human, etc. It promotes an analytical management approach, enabling action not only in a general environment, but also and especially in accordance with the complexity of the social reality and with ethical and responsibility issues which influence the development of contemporary societies.
It is based on three learning objectives: consolidation of the foundations of theoretical work in the field of ethics and responsibility; reflection on the conditions for development that respect human beings; understanding of the implications of development on the social organisation, the life styles and the forms of solidarity.
The programme includes field experience abroad, enabling students to compare theoretical analysis and real development practice. At the end of the course, an ethics week is organised based on the students' work.

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