• University of Glasgow

Safeguarding in Collaborative Research and International Development: Contexts, Challenges, and Opportunities

Learn fundamental safeguarding principles and how to adapt them to suit whatever research contexts you may encounter.

449 enrolled on this course

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Safeguarding in Collaborative Research and International Development: Contexts, Challenges, and Opportunities

449 enrolled on this course

  • 3 weeks

  • 4 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

Ensure proper safeguarding training and policies in international research

Safeguarding training must be very context-specific in order to be effective, and this remains a major challenge in international development and research.

On this three-week course from the University of Glasgow, you’ll learn how to ensure safeguarding in collaborative research projects across diverse global situations.

Unpack basic safeguarding principles and practices

The course starts off with a thorough review of the definition of safeguarding, why safeguarding is necessary in international development, and other fundamental safeguarding principles.

You’ll explore the differences between research ethics and safeguarding, how reporting mechanisms work, what to do if colleagues are involved, and how to manage expectations.

Understand how to contextualise and adapt safeguarding policy in different situations

After revising safeguarding principles in general, you’ll apply them in different situations. You will consider ways to adapt them to a range of research contexts, including different languages and cultures, research methodologies and other key issues.

Finally, you’ll reflect on the knowledge you’ve gained during the course and use it to co-create, adapt, and interpret safeguarding policies within your own research contexts to ensure they are appropriate.

Learn from world leaders on safeguarding training and policies

The University of Glasgow and the lead educators are ideally positioned to deliver this course, having already developed open safeguarding resources within the CUSP (Culture for Sustainable and Inclusive Peace) Network Plus Project.

With their expert guidance and support, you’ll be well-equipped to develop policies that not only ensure a strong safeguarding policy in your own work but help to include it and build collaborative research capacity worldwide.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 17 seconds All organizations who work with children and vulnerable adults in the UK are expected to put safeguarding policies in place. This is to ensure that everyone is protected from harm and that anyone who is in contact with children and vulnerable adults is able to recognize signs of abuse and neglect, knows what to do in these situations and how to report their concerns in order to promote a safeguard environment for all. This course will focus on the main principles of safeguarding on how to be confident in reporting and responding to safeguarding issues. And more importantly, on how to contextualize safeguarding while also supporting individuals and organizations to strengthen capacity to prevent and address potential harm.

Skip to 1 minute and 9 seconds We aim to share good practice and provide a space for reflection on how to tackle different issues related to safeguarding, especially when it comes to research with international partners. Safeguarding research is still relatively new and sometimes it overlaps with the requirements of the research ethics process. We will try to unpack how safeguarding differs from research ethics and what are the similarities in doing so. We hope to provide prompts for reflection and discussion and useful materials to enhance research capacities worldwide. This course provides an interactive learning opportunity for researchers working internationally, and crosscultural for NGOs, practitioners, charities, volunteers, students and all those involved in cross cultural work which require safeguarding.

Skip to 2 minutes and 2 seconds The course develops over three weeks and attendance is flexible, self paced and free of charge. As a learner, you will undertake a series of online activities supported by multimedia teaching materials. Such as readings, videos and podcasts. You will be given the opportunity to discuss course topics with your fellow learners and also with us the tutors. We look forward to meeting you online.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Safeguarding. An introduction

    • Introduction

      Before starting the course, let's get to know each other and let's hear more about you and your expectations!

    • Defining safeguarding

      In this section we will unpack definitions of safeguarding and what we mean by abuse and harm.

    • Vulnerability

      In this section, we will reflect on the term 'vulnerability'.

    • Summary

      Welcome to the end of Week 1!

  • Week 2

    Safeguarding. Approaches and procedures

    • Universal Safeguarding

      In this activity, we discuss safeguarding as a universal concept.

    • Dignity and the Capability Approach (CA)

      We continue our discussions on safeguarding by introducing the idea of dignity for all human beings, grounded in the work of the philosopher Martha Nussbaum and her capabilities approach

    • Reporting and Responding

      This section focuses on procedures of reporting and responding, challenges associated with reporting and responding, and ways of recording and sharing information.

    • Summary

      Welcome to the end of Week 2!

  • Week 3

    Safeguarding in international research. Contexts, ethics and methodology

    • Contextualising Safeguarding

      In this activity, we look at how safeguarding is contextualized in different contexts.

    • Safeguarding, Research Methodology, and Ethics

      In this section, we pose some critical questions about the suitability and the challenges of using certain research methodologies when working with 'vulnerable' people.

    • Time to reflect

      In these steps we will finally reflect on the whole course.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Demostrate knowledge of main safeguarding principles, including definitions of abuse and harm, ethics, safeguarding; reporting and responding mechanisms
  • Explore the role of safeguarding within the broader international research field and within research processes
  • Interpret safeguarding within your own contexts
  • Collaborate with other learners to develop translations and applications of safeguarding principles that can be used for a specific context
  • Reflect on the new knowledge gathered during the course
  • Evaluate how the new knowledge will shape future practices

Who is the course for?

This safeguarding course is designed for anyone working in collaborative research across different nationalities, languages, and cultures. Charities, volunteers, and NGO workers will also find it invaluable.

Who will you learn with?

I am a Lecturer in Adult Education (University of Glasgow). I am interested in intercultural education with adult migrants and refugees, and conflict transformation and peacebuilding.

I am a Senior Lecturer in Social Inclusion at the University of Glasgow (School of Education).

I am an Associate Tutor (in TESOL) and Researcher at the University of Glasgow.

Who developed the course?

The University of Glasgow

Founded in 1451, the University of Glasgow is the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world. It is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of leading UK research universities.

  • Established

    1451
  • Location

    Glasgow, Scotland, UK
  • World ranking

    Top 70Source: QS World University Rankings 2020

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$109/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 18 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

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