Teaching human rights online: An open access approach

"Since 1948, the human rights of every individual have been internationally recognized through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To a large extent, however, human rights are only meaningful when individuals are aware of those rights and the mechanisms available to support them. In many countries, both Western and nonWestern, education about human rights is limited or non-existent. Moreover, access to such education at an advanced level is typically limited by numerous barriers, such as the ability to meet the prerequisites to enroll in a university subject about human rights, or to pay the often substantial cost of enrolment. In 2015-16, at the University of Wollongong, I took part in an initiative designed to overcome these barriers, through creating an online, open access university subject about human rights. The subject, forming part of a new online Graduate Certificate in Global Citizenship, could be completed for free by students, and required only internet access. This article reflects on the process of developing and facilitating this subject. “Introduction to Human Rights” was unique as one of the first efforts to make this level of education about human rights freely available online, and in its commitment to being fully open access (course.oeru.org/introduction-to-human-rights/). Unlike many online subjects, which are essentially a video or audio recording of an on-campus university subject, Introduction to Human Rights utilized an expanded methodological approach to creating and incorporating educational content. Some major challenges, including a number of unanticipated ones, impacted on the process of creating and running the subject. Despite its success, and positive feedback from students, the University did not support its continuation. Arguably, this outcome reflects some of the inherent tensions between the MOOC and open education approaches, and those of the university-based higher education model. It also highlights both the opportunities and barriers associated with adopting a transformative human rights education methodology in an online educational space."