University of Strathclyde Courses

Understanding Violence Against Women: Myths and Realities

5

Be part of a movement to end violence against womenThe United Nations considers violence against women to be a grave violation of human rights of epidemic proportions.Such violence has profoundly negative consequences for individuals, communities and entire societies. This is why preventing violence against women is a priority issue for governments and societies around the world.On this course you will learn about the roots of violence against women, the principles of gender inequality at its centre and most importantly, how to challenge entrenched attitudes that impact women.Join the movement to end violence against women today.This course is for anyone interested in challenging and preventing violence against women, you don’t need any prior experience of the topic.

Understanding Information and Technology Today

0

Learn what to use computers for and when to switch them off and think.When we talk about technology and IS (information systems) we tend to focus on computers.On this course, you will examine the ‘big picture’ of technology,and gain a better understanding of what computers can do for us and when we should switch off our technological devices.The aim of this course is not just to provide an in-depth understanding of specific applications, but to help you develop a context for the technologies you encounter. You will discover the fundamental concepts of technology and IS in context to help you understand the changes in the technology landscape.You don’t need any past experience of this topic to take this course. You might find this course particularly useful if you’re background isn’t in technology but you now find yourself using technology regularly.

Caring for Vulnerable Children

3.5

Explore childcare approaches for vulnerable childrenPublic sector cuts have made the task of caring for vulnerable children more challenging than ever.On this course, aspiring or in childcare careers will better understand the characteristics of different childcare approaches and possible interventions.You’ll explore definitions of risk and vulnerability, good enough parenting, child development, and fostering meaningful relationships and attachments, examining these issues in the real-life context of budget cuts and increasing child povertyThis online childcare course will be suitable if you:Have no direct experience of the childcare field, but want to develop your career towards itHave recently began a childcare career and have little experienceHave some experience and are interested in developing your qualifications furtherFind it difficult to access childcare courses for training and development

Introduction to Journalism

3

This free online course is aimed at those curious about journalism and looking to gain a better understanding of what the subject entails. Run by a team of internationally-renowned scholars and journalism practitioners at the University of Strathclyde, it gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the professional world of reporters and editors.The course contains six topics - what makes a good news story; writing news; writing features; opinion writing; politics and journalism; and investigative journalism - and explores these in relation to a case study running throughout the six weeks. Although the scenario is entirely fictitious, participants will engage in tasks and discussions that reflect real-life situations in journalism.Each week contains a variety of learning activities that will introduce concepts, challenge assumptions, facilitate understanding and hone new skills. You’ll be encouraged to discuss your thoughts with peers and tutors, generate and edit small pieces of writing, and comment on others’ work.Several esteemed journalists from around the world will feature each week, as they discuss key topics in relation to their own work. By enacting the role of a journalist in the context of an escalating story, the course adheres to Strathclyde’s ethos of “a place of useful learning.”Two feature articles written by learners as part of this course have been republished on our blog: “Muddy Waters” by Sharon Walker documents flooding in Genoa; and “David” by Shawn Basheer is a pen portrait of a Sri Lankan refugee.The course has no formal requirements – rather than prior journalistic knowledge or experience, we ask only for an inquisitive mind.

Working Lives in the Coal Mines: Mining History and Heritage

5

Uncover the lives of coal industry workers and miners in the long 19th centuryOn this course, you’ll explore the history and heritage of British mining labour.You’ll discover the evolution of the role of coal-miners in the 19th century, the hardships they endured, and learn how mining has affected British industrial heritage today.Through online resources and museum archives, you’ll gain historical, literary and genealogical research skills, and learn to critically assess mining artefacts and representations of life in the mines.You’ll also learn how these representations relate to wider issues of class, gender, and political and professional identity.This course is designed for people with an interest in mining history or heritage, or industrial heritage more broadly.The course will also be of interest to professionals working in or aiming to work in the heritage sector and students at school or university who have an interest in the long Victorian period.

Getting Care Right for All Children: Implementing the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children

0

Ensure that alternative care is necessary, suitable and positive for children.Taking the UN Guidelines as a framework, this free online course will help you gain insight into how the unnecessary placement of a child in alternative care can be prevented; how alternative care can constitute a suitable, positive experience for a child when it is necessary; and how children and young people who are leaving care can best be supported. Learn with alternative care specialists from CELCIS, UNICEF and the UN.This course is designed for practitioners and policymakers from both state and non-state bodies (such as NGOs, CBOs and private service providers)and anyone working in providing services around children’s care.This might include social workers, para-social workers, community support workers, lawyers, psychologists, child protection professionals, teachers, medical workers and care workers, including those in family-based and residential settings.The course will also be accessible for people not working directly in this field and others with an interest or responsibility in the field of child protection and child care.The course will be conducted in English with some course materials (including text and videos) also accessible in Spanish and French, reflecting the truly global nature of this issue.

Caring for Children Moving Alone: Protecting Unaccompanied and Separated Children

0

Learn about unaccompanied and separated refugee and migrant childrenThis course is about the care and protection of unaccompanied and separated refugee and migrant children who are moving across and between countries. This course will provide an understanding of the risks and vulnerabilities these children face. It will inform the improvement of policy, practice and delivery of support services that uphold children’s rights and meet their best interests. The course will provide examples of promising practice. It will stimulate the exchange of ideas and experience between learners around the world and is available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic.The course will be of interest to you if you are a front line professional or a volunteer anywhere in the world working to offer care, protection and other support to unaccompanied and separated children on the move. For example, you might be a social worker, child protection professional, teacher, border official, medical worker, judge, lawyer or care worker. The course will be of significance if you are a policy maker, work for a government or non-governmental organisation or indeed, if you have any concern or responsibility for child protection and alternative care. You will also find this course useful if you are studying the topic of migration or, someone who would like to learn more about children who are travelling alone across and between borders.

Forced Marriage: Issues and Dilemmas

0

Learn how to define forced marriagesForced marriage is recognised internationally as a violation of women and children’s human rights and as a form of violence against women. This course will explore the meaning and impact of forced marriage on the individual and communities where it takes place. The course will also examine some of the measures and interventions being implemented to prevent forced marriage and support those affected.The course is aimed at the general public, a wide range of professionals such as teachers, social workers, front line professionals in commercial, public and third sector organisations and those already working in this sector. It would also be of value to those livingor working in affected communities or where forced marriage takes place in the context of migration.

Hurricane Tracking with Satellite Data

0

Analyse satellite data of hurricanes and explore descriptive statisticsRegularly causing major global destruction, hurricanes are intense storms with devastating winds. Space-enabled data allows us to observe, monitor, and track hurricanes from a safe distance. Although easily accessible, large volumes of satellite data have been left untouched due to a lack of skilled data analysts.On this course, you’ll explore the key concepts of data science required to process, analyse, and interpret large datasets. You’ll use tutorials and case studies to understand the possibilities within these datasets, and learn how to interpret satellite data beyond the course.This course is for anyone interested in learning something about hurricanes or satellites, or those interested in starting to code in Python.Anaconda with Python 3.0 (free to download).

Working Lives on Britain's Railways: Railway History and Heritage

5

Explore British railway history and learn what work on the railways was likeOn this course, you will investigate the professional lives of the men and women working on the British railways from the 1840s until the First World War.Using archival materials from the National Railway Museum, you will learn about the mental and physical hardship endured by railway workers, as well as the risks and pleasures that came with working in this new industry.From Irish Catholic navvies to female office clerks based in industrial cities, you will discover the surprising diversity and complexity of the railway workforce.IMPORTANT NOTICE: On this special extended version of the course the Educators will continue to join the discussions and respond to individual comments but less frequently; this will likely mean that they will not be able to respond to each individual comment or question. Please also note that there will not be any Live Stream sessions during this run, however links to recordings of previous sessions will be included for your benefit.This course is designed for anyone with an interest in railway history and heritage, working-class history and culture, industrial heritage, the Victorian period, or museums and their holdings.

Gender Representation in the Media

0

Develop critical skills for analysing the media through a gendered lensFrom Beyoncé performing in front of a lit up ‘Feminist’ sign to the #MeToo movement, feminist issues have never seemed so popular in the media. However, research still consistently highlights the under-representation of women in the media, especially amongst marginalised groups.On this course, you’ll be introduced to key gender issues. You’ll explore female representation in areas from news to sports to feature films, and discover why equal representation still looks a long way off.You’ll also consider what can be done to offer alternative depictions of women to the mainstream media.IMPORTANT NOTICE: On this special extended version of the course the Educators will continue to join the discussions and respond to individual comments but less frequently; this will likely mean that they will not be able to respond to each individual comment or question. Please also note that there will not be any Live Stream sessions during this run, however links to recordings of previous sessions will be included for your benefit.This course is designed for anyone who wants to be able to engage with media more critically, or anyone who wants to learn more about gender inequality, female media representation, media studies, feminist activism and feminist analysis.