Forwarding Service

Invitation to attend doctoral course
Human Rights and Legal Empowerment of the Poor: Theory and Practice

Date: 2 - 4 October 2008
Venue: Randsvangen Hotel http://www.randsvangen.no/ , Norway

Organised by: Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM), University of Oslo

Principal objectives
a) To review and evaluate human rights and legal empowerment-based approaches to the study of poverty reduction, which will enable doctoral students to understand key poverty-related concepts and approaches that are currently widespread and influential among major international and national development agencies.
b) To provide an arena for critical and constructive feedback to written material submitted by doctoral students.

Lecturers
In addition to the organiser, Dr. Dan Banik, the lecturers include Prof. Arjun Sengupta (Centre for Development and Human Rights, New Delhi) Prof. Siddiq Osmani (Dept. of Economics, University of Ulster) Prof. Desmond McNeill (Centre for Development and the Environment, University of Oslo) Dr. Elisabeth Ashford (Philosophy, University of St Andrews) Dr. Bård A. Andreassen (Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, University of Oslo).

Who may apply?
The interdisciplinary nature of the course will appeal to students with a background in political science, economics, anthropology, geography, sociology, philosophy, development studies and law. The main target group is doctoral students at Norwegian and Nordic universities. In addition, the course will appeal to doctoral students in other European countries. We are particularly interested in the participation of doctoral students from developing countries.

Funding
The organisers will cover the costs of accommodation and meals at Randsvangen hotel, and will arrange for transportation from Oslo airport to the hotel and back. Participants must cover their own travel costs to and from Oslo, but we hope to obtain funding for some modest travel grants for selected students from the South.

For further information on the course and details on application, please visit the course website: http://www.sum.uio.no/research/poverty/phd_2008.html

All queries should be sent to: pad-course@sum.uio.no
Application deadline is 1 July 2008.

Successful applicants will be contacted by 15 July 2008.

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