SOAS University of London Courses

Teaching Migration Through Data and Storytelling

0

Help learners understand where, why, and how migration happensThere have been urgent recent calls for curricula to address issues of migration. Yet 78% of British teachers asked by the Runnymede Trust said they needed more support “to equip them to teach migration more sensitively and effectively.”On this course, teachers can develop their skills to explain where and why migration happens. You’ll learn how to interpret big data sets, examining migration research through video and learning activities.You’ll also explore creative methods of storytelling, visual arts, and design to humanise migration stories through arts and empathic learning.This course is designed for teachers educators who want to know how to teach migration using data and storytelling. It would also appeal to anyone learning from home interested in these issues, or educators and learners interested in critical thinking, data skills, independent investigation, and understanding the reliability of sources.To take part in this course you will need to know how to use google sheets, or to feel confident to download a google sheet and use excel.

Zoroastrianism: History, Religion, and Belief

0

Delve into the rich visual history of the Zoroastrian religionZoroastrianism has had a profound influence on major world religions. Its history tells the story of imperial culture, persecution, migration and the establishment of diasporic communities.Utilising a rich visual repository of artifacts, paintings, and texts, this four-week course will take you through the story of Zoroastrian religion, history, and culture.The course draws inspiration from an exhibition titled ‘The Everlasting Flame: Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination’, as well as the book of the same name.Discover the fire at the centre of this ancient religionYou’ll start by looking at the teachings of the Zoroastrian faith to understand where it sits in the context of world religions. You’ll then explore the religion’s history, from antiquity to present day.Fire is a supreme symbol of Zoroastrianism and is central to the religion’s doctrine, ritual, and observance. You’ll learn how to link this idea to everyday devotional life and care for the planet.Explore the challenges facing Zoroastrian communitiesToday, this ancient religion is in retreat, with numbers diminishing and the language becoming endangered.On this course, you’ll examine the challenges the community faces and connect them to historical events to build a larger picture of the religion.Finally, you’ll look at the religion’s ancient language, Avestan, which is key to understanding Zoroastrian texts, myths, and legends.Learn from the experts at SOAS University of LondonSOAS has a long history of teaching and research on the subject of Zoroastrianism, together with the languages, both ancient and modern, that support it.As the only institution to have two endowed posts in Zoroastrianism, SOAS is uniquely positioned to guide you through the history and challenges of this ancient religion.This course is designed for anyone interested in ancient religions - both ancient and living - specifically Zoroastrian religious traditions and its languages. It will also appeal to anyone interested in Iranian Studies or South Asian Studies.Members of the Zoroastrian community worldwide will find this course particularly useful.

Understanding Public Financial Management: How Is Your Money Spent?

3.5

How does the Covid-19 pandemic affect the public finances of governments? What went wrong in Greece’s handling of its public debt? How did a city government like Detroit go from prosperity to bankruptcy? And how could the looting, theft and corruption in Malawi’s “cashgate” have been avoided?We are all concerned about where “our” money goes. We all want good roads and schools, thriving industry, and personal and national security, but how can we be sure that public monies are being managed properly, and how can we hold those in charge to account?Understand and evaluate the management of public financesThis free online course will provide you with the knowledge and tools to understand and evaluate the management of financial resources across the public sector, wherever you are.Drawing on the expertise of the Centre for Financial and Management Studies at SOAS, University of London, we’ll look at:how governments and public sector organisations obtain financial resources through taxation, fees, charges, natural resources and other means;how public sector organisations decide to use financial resources for attaining public policy goals and implementing public programmes;how public sector organisations report their financial performance to the public;how the use of public financial resources is audited;and how governments are made accountable for their financial decisions.By the end of the four-week course, you will be able to:understand the basics of public financial management;read simple public sector financial statements;explain how governments raise finance through various means;explain how the budget process works at national and sub-national levels;understand how auditing is conducted in public sector organisations;and understand how public sector organisations are held accountable to the public.This is a general level course, however some knowledge of economics, political science, or accounting may be useful. This course would also be of interest to those already working in public sector management or simply looking for a better understanding of contemporary financial issues.

Risk Management in the Global Economy

5

What is risk? Why does it matter, to us and to the financial markets? What are the principles that drive the management of risk? Can we ensure that these principles are implemented wisely?This free online course will look at risk management in its broadest terms, giving you the opportunity to evaluate the crucial role played by risk in the global economy, both in terms of its opportunities and its potential dangers.Understand financial investments and the associated risksWith experts from the Centre for Financial and Management Studies at SOAS University of London, you’ll look at practical examples of financial investments, to examine:the main functions of finance and of risk management the main forms of financial investment, such as stocks and bonds, derivatives, futures and options, hedging and speculation strategieshow firms hedge risk by using financial derivativeshow risk management is applied in the financial and in the non-financial sector. Learn how the financial crisis and emerging markets are changing risk managementThe course will explore how finance has changed in recent years, and ask if these changes have resulted in greater systemic risk for the financial sector and for the economy as a whole. By examining concepts such as behavioural finance, we’ll ask if inappropriate risk management has exacerbated the recent financial crisis.Finally, we’ll turn our attention to new and emerging markets. For example, how is risk managed in Islamic finance? How might common tools alter risk in investment positions in mature markets as well as in the banking sector? And how can firms utilise risk management tools most effectively?By the end of the four-week course, you’ll be able to:understand financial markets and the principles of risk managementunderstand the main types of risk and evaluate the methods and tools used by firms to manage risks examine ideas and methods used in the analysis of portfolios of financial securities, including stocks and bondsexplain the use of financial derivatives for hedging (reducing risk) and speculation (increasing risk) in financial markets evaluate the application of risk methods and risk management tools in the global economyThe course offers a broad overview of risk, and will be of interest to those looking to better understand financial instruments and their impact on the global economy.This is a general level course, however some knowledge of economics or finance may be useful.

Global Energy and Climate Policy

4.5

Class Central TipsLearn How to Sign up to Coursera courses for free1600+ Coursera Courses That Are Still Completely FreeThe Global Energy and Climate Policy course offers an introduction to the theoretical and practical understanding of how energy and climate change policies are designed, shaped, advocated and implemented. As energy markets go truly global, domestic energy policies are becoming more and more entangled with wider issues of international governance. Concurrently, the urgent need to mitigate and adapt to climate change and transition to a low-carbon future is adding a further layer of complexity. The course is aimed broadly at people interested in learning more about interconnected issues in energy and climate policy globally. It assumes a level of interest but no necessary previous knowledge. However, the course also offers sufficient up to date research and new critical perspectives to be of interest to people with expertise in or academic familiarity with the topic as well. The main aim of the course is to provide this wide-ranging introduction in a self-contained, but in-depth form, alongside the important practical skills necessary to understand and discuss energy and climate policy, and lay the groundwork for greater engagement in the future – either through academic study, in the public, private or not-for-profit sectors.